(Ecofin Agency) - In Morocco, the production of white sugar has increased by 32% and is now at 480,000 metric tons, indicates La Vie Eco. Thanks to this progress, the kingdom will provide 40% of its sugar needs against the usual 29% this year.

The performance was promoted by the increase of 48% in areas dedicated to the cultivation of beetroot whose production has also risen by 45%. Though the results of the kingdom are progressing in the sugar sector, one can however state that Morocco is still very far from its production goal of 856,000 metric tons sugar in 5 years.

To reach it, the country will need to inject dirhams 7.6 billion in the sector and fight for sugar cane to win back the interest of producers from the Loukkos region who now favour early season fruits and vegetables as well as groundnuts.

If this succeeds, sugar production will cover 62% of the kingdom’s needs and sugar imports will continue in the downward trend currently observed.