Egyptian blueberry growers aspire to establish a competitive blueberry industry

Egyptian blueberry cultivators are cautiously expanding their cultivated land while closely monitoring the situation in Morocco. Should the challenges faced by the Moroccan blueberry industry persist, as they did last year, it would present a significant opportunity for Egypt.

Enterprises like the Fayed Agricultural Development Company (FATA) are rising to this challenge. According to Karim Fayed, the Operations Manager at FATA, “There’s certainly a market gap we can exploit, and we’re gradually increasing our cultivated land. Normally, Egypt’s cultivated land for blueberries is on the rise, but growers are managing growth cautiously due to concerns about plummeting prices. Blueberries hold a premium status in Egypt, with the majority of our harvest being sold domestically. A substantial surge in supply poses a substantial financial risk.”

Karim further notes, “Last year, when Moroccan production suffered due to adverse weather conditions, Egyptian growers discovered a highly lucrative opportunity to export to foreign markets at premium prices. This is bound to result in increased blueberry production in Egypt for the upcoming season. We’ll closely monitor the situation. If Morocco faces similar challenges, we’ll have foreign markets to cater to. Conversely, if Morocco’s situation improves, the Egyptian market will be flooded.”

In the long run, Egyptian blueberry growers aspire to establish a competitive blueberry industry. Karim explains, “We are conducting trials to identify varieties that can consistently provide high-quality yields. Some varieties are already showing great promise. We’re ensuring that we adopt varieties resistant to extreme heat.”

Karim concludes, “It’s true that Moroccan producers have the advantage of years of experience and stable production. However, if the recent climatic conditions persist, this could lead to a shift in regional competition favoring Egypt.”

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