Recommendations of the Competition Council

Speaking at the opening of the conference, held on the sidelines of the 16th edition of the International Agricultural Fair in Morocco (SIAM), Mr. Sadiki emphasized that the competitive functioning of markets provides a lever for structuring chains of agricultural production.

“The strategy of the agricultural sector in Morocco has been based on the ‘Value Chain’ approach since the adoption of the Green Morocco Plan and currently, within the framework of the Generation Green Strategy, against a background of measures that promote inclusive agricultural markets. transparent and sustainable,” said the minister.

He also recalled the promulgation of the law defining the areas of intervention of interprofessionals, allowing the integration of upstream and downstream production chains.

This choice, he continued, was reinforced by the program contracts concluded with the interprofessional agricultural federations, with a view to monitoring and improving the performance of production chains, based in particular on optimizing use inputs and production factors.

In the same vein, Mr Sadiki stressed the importance of putting human capital and development at the center of priorities and working towards laying the foundations for ecologically efficient agriculture.

For his part, the President of the Competition Council, Ahmed Rahhou, explained that competition cannot be examined in isolation, as it is inextricably linked to the creation of added value and to the very organization of the sector, where the need to take into account the legal and regulatory frameworks in which economic actors operate.

Referring to the Council’s missions and responsibilities, Mr Rahhou indicated that in addition to its decision-making powers in the fight against anti-competitive practices and control of economic concentration operations, the Council is also called upon to give its opinion on requests for consultations and to undertake studies publish on the general competitive environment at sectoral and national level.

In this context, the Competition Council has requested advice with a view to studying and investigating the competitive functioning of fruit and vegetable markets, which play a central role in the diet, culture and economy of Moroccan households and contribute to their health, well-being and culinary identity.

Through this advice, the Competition Council carried out a study into the structure and functioning of fruit and vegetable markets in Morocco, paying particular attention to wholesale markets. The behavior of the players and the performance of the sector were also studied before conducting a competitive analysis.

Based on the diagnosis carried out and the competition restrictions identified, recommendations were made to stimulate competition in these markets and promote their growth. These are cross-functional recommendations, as well as specific recommendations for the different stages of production, distribution and marketing.

• Transversal recommendations:

1. Revise the legal framework that regulates all links in the chain;

2. Fight against losses and waste;

3. Improve product traceability through the use of intelligent solutions;

4. Strengthen quality norms and standards;

5. Promote the contractualization of transactions between the different links in the chain;

6. Establish an integrated information system and a strategic monitoring system for monitoring and analyzing the fruit and vegetable market;

• Recommendations for the production phase:

7. Encourage the grouping of producers;

8. Stimulate digital transformation in the agricultural sector “Agritech”;

9. Expand banking and insurance offerings for the benefit of farmers;

• Recommendations regarding the stage of distribution:

10. Accelerate the reform of wholesale markets;

11. Working to promote the processing and valorization of fruit and vegetables.

• Recommendations for the commercialization phase:

12. Reshape marketing spaces;

13. Promote short circuits;

14. Promote the digitalization of marketing channels.

This conference, which is part of the SIAM scientific programme, was attended by decision-makers, professionals, researchers, representatives of national and international organizations and other players in the agricultural and agro-industrial sector.