Sugar Cane Farming Regains Its Shine in the Loukos Basin with Exceptional Demand This Season
The Loukos Basin in the Larache province is experiencing an unprecedented agricultural season as sugar cane reclaims its position as the leading local crop. This rise is fueled by widespread interest from farmers who find it a more profitable and stable alternative, bolstered by financial and technical incentives provided by the Cosumar Group.
Farms stretching between Larache and Ksar el Kebir have been buzzing with activity for weeks, with increasing areas allocated for this crop, which can remain in the ground for five consecutive years. This comes at a time when farmers’ confidence in crops such as sugar beet, which no longer yield the expected returns, has waned.
According to field data, farmers are receiving financial support of up to 14,000 dirhams per hectare, which has contributed to expanding the cultivated area to approximately 3,800 hectares this season, an increase of nearly 1,000 hectares compared to last year. The rate of new planting has reached about 80 percent by mid-October.
Industry observers believe that this interest reflects a gradual shift in the agricultural structure of the Loukos Basin, which is one of Morocco’s richest regions, particularly suited for growing sugar plants. The presence of a large processing plant in Ksar el Kebir further enhances the local production chain and supports the agricultural economy in the region.
