Drought challenges Moroccan rosemary harvest

MOROCCO – The prolonged drought in Morocco has greatly affected the quality and availability of wild-grown rosemary, leading producers to turn towards cultivated and irrigated plantations.

This shift marks a response to the ongoing climatic challenges and their impact on the traditional rosemary harvest.

Mehdi Benchekroun, owner of Les Domaines Mehdi Benchekroun, explains, “The drought we have been experiencing for a long time in Morocco, as in other Mediterranean countries, has delayed the regeneration of the plants. This has also happened in other rosemary-exporting countries such as Tunisia.”

The lack of sufficient rainfall has stunted the growth of wild rosemary, resulting in shorter plants with a paler color, and lower levels of essential acids, such as carnosic acid, which are critical in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

In response to these challenges, Moroccan rosemary producers are increasingly relying on cultivated and irrigated plantations.

Benchekroun has taken proactive measures by establishing new rosemary plantations in the Ouarzazate region, focusing on varieties specifically selected for botanical extraction and oil production.

He notes, “We have anticipated this by relying less on wild-grown plants in the forests and increasingly on cultivated and irrigated plantations.”

These cultivated fields are expected to provide a more reliable and consistent supply of rosemary, especially in a season marked by unpredictable weather conditions and regional disparities in plant quality.

This approach is seen as a necessary adaptation to the current environmental realities, with the hope that normal weather patterns will return soon.

The drought’s impact is not uniform across Morocco, leading to varied decisions by authorities regarding rosemary harvesting.

In some regions, harvesting has been halted entirely to allow the wild plants to regenerate, further complicating the supply chain for producers who depend on wild-grown rosemary.

Benchekroun acknowledges the difficulties this season presents, especially for those sourcing wild-grown rosemary.

“We will also assist our clients in this difficult season with sourcing wild-grown rosemary that meets their standards and needs, which requires on-the-groundwork given the irregularities marking the season and disparities from one region to another,” he says.

While the shift to cultivated and irrigated rosemary offers a short-term solution, the broader outlook remains uncertain.

The constant drought and aridity in the region have driven this temporary switch, but there is optimism for a return to more favorable weather conditions.

“Constant drought and aridity are prompting this temporary switch from wild-grown to cultivated and irrigated rosemary, in the hope of a rapid return to normality and sufficient rainfall,” concludes Benchekroun.

Sign up to receive our email newsletters with the latest news updates and insights from Africa and the World HERE.