Organized by the Almond Festival Association in Aknoul, with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, the Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication (Culture sector), and the Ministry of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, this event has been reimagined to combine agricultural, economic, and cultural dimensions, aiming to promote almonds as a strategic product abundant in the mountainous region of Taza.
Returning after a five-year hiatus, this edition aims to be a true showcase of rural expertise, bringing together 64 cooperatives and companies specializing in promoting local products while highlighting the richness of local agricultural heritage and the pivotal role of the sector in the province’s economy.
The festival also serves as a space for information and awareness regarding the importance of local products and their connection to the green economy and sustainable development. It presents an opportunity to explore ways to invigorate the almond sector, strengthen its integration into processing and marketing circuits, and enhance its role in promoting local development.
In a statement to MAP, the president of the Almond Festival Association in Aknoul, Abdel Karim Al-Hams, noted that this festival represents a positive and structuring initiative, allowing participating cooperatives to showcase and promote their products. He also announced the launch of a dedicated platform for local products, providing cooperatives and professionals with a space for exhibition, promotion, sale, and marketing.
“We have worked to give this event a national dimension and encourage cooperatives to invest more in promoting this iconic product,” he continued, highlighting that agriculture, particularly almond production, is a promising sector whose development will eventually allow for the emergence of local companies specializing in processing, whether it be almond oil, derived products, or cosmetics.
He added that the festival program includes a variety of parallel activities, including scientific conferences, workshops led by experts, sports activities, and cultural events.
For his part, the head of the division responsible for agricultural chain development at the regional agricultural directorate in Fez-Meknes, Mustapha Elmghari, noted that this edition brings together 64 cooperatives representing seven regions of the Kingdom, illustrating the richness and diversity of Moroccan local products.
“This festival is not merely an annual meeting,” he continued, “but is part of a process of support, training, and skill development for cooperatives, aimed at improving their level of organization, expanding their marketing opportunities, and fostering exchanges between them.”
This dynamic fully aligns with the objectives of the Generation Green 2020-2030 Strategy, which aims to strengthen a rural middle class and create job opportunities through the development and structuring of professional and cooperative organizations working in the agricultural sector, he added.
Covering 40,520 hectares, which is 28% of the provincial tree-covered area, almond cultivation is a major driver for creating value, diversifying farmers’ income, and enhancing resilience against water stress.
In Aknoul, almond trees also occupy an estimated area of 25,000 hectares, making this sector a genuine agricultural and environmental treasure, contributing to combating desertification and protecting soils in mountainous areas.
This edition will see the participation of more than 100 exhibitors, including agricultural cooperatives and associations, and will offer a rich parallel program of cultural, sports, and recreational activities aimed at showcasing the natural, heritage, and economic assets of the region.
MAP