Argan oil .. Morocco's
peasant sweat sheds gold in the markets of America
If you walk through the streets of Washington, you will soon be fascinated by the huge advertising banners about the benefits of argan oil or facades of beauty salons decorated with various colors and sizes labeled "moroccan oil" or "argan oil".
Once you set foot in one of these stores throughout the US capital, the seller seeks to glorify the benefits of the staff, trying to convince you of the quality of the product, focusing on its Moroccan origin.
The available products vary according to the purchasing power of the American consumer and the type of product. The price of selling a bottle of Argan oil from 60 ml is between $ 11 and $ 50, while the selling price exceeds these figures if it comes to a cosmetic product that uses argan oil.
Morocco's oil-rich argan oil is already popular in America, said Moroccan businessman Ahmed Greuda, who owns a company to import and sell cosmetics.
However, despite the many benefits of this oil in the field of nutrition, consumer demand remains focused on oil-oriented cosmetics. "This is due to the publicity power of the big beauty companies for this kind of oil," he said.
But did you know that out of the $ 50 (the price of selling the Argan oil bottle), only $ 2 goes to the Moroccan product, while the trader keeps the rest?
What do you know about Argan oil?
Argan oil contains a large percentage of vitamin D, which helps to avoid the damage of the skin and the soap that is working to soften. This oil also helps fight the effects of premature aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles, according to the doctor, Victor Dufico.
The specialist adds that Argan oil rich in some active compounds that help to accelerate the healing of scars in addition to it protects the skin from exposure to sunlight. Besides, argan oil has anti-inflammatory properties.
Dr. Doveko points out that this oil has a large proportion of fatty acids that moisturize dry hair and reduce the pounding of endings. Argan oil is rich in omega-3, omega-6, unsaturated fats and amino acids.
Nutritionally, the steroids are more readily available than any other vegetable oil. Studies have shown that these plant sterols help prevent absorption of cholesterol inside the intestine, strengthen immunity and promote blood circulation.
In addition, it helps facilitate digestion by increasing the concentration of pepsin in the intestinal juices.
Staff in the land of Uncle Sam
The US market has witnessed a remarkable development in terms of the demand for Argan oil in recent years, according to the General Federation of Staff, which includes various actors in the staff sector in Morocco.
Leading cosmetic companies have taken care of this oil, which has become available in most cosmetics and hair care products.
Unfortunately, this success and fame is not reflected in the rights holders and producers of argan oil in Morocco.
A simple search shows that the price per liter of argan oil in the United States ranges from $ 200 to $ 1,000, which means 5 to 25 times the price of selling it in its native Morocco.
This is due to the number of intermediaries working in the sector who "monopolize the export line of argan oil abroad," according to the head of the Afolki Ait Baamran cooperative, Abdel Rahman Boufim.
According to official Moroccan statistics, Bouffem explains that the Argan oil cooperatives export only 3 percent of the total product, while more than 60 percent are imported by French companies, which in turn distribute it to other markets abroad.
The importers of Argan oil often resort to intermediary services because of the limited ability of cooperatives to introduce their products abroad, which explains the discrepancy between the price of selling argan oil in the country of origin and in the foreign market.
"We are affected 100 percent, we do not take advantage of what we produce enough," says the chairman of the cooperative Afolki Ait Baamran, explaining that the problem lies also in the large supply in Morocco, if the cooperative declined to sell there are other cooperatives will sell.
In 2013, Morocco exported 120 tonnes of Argan oil to the US market for about $ 1 million, according to the General Staff of the General Staff, which includes direct exports from Morocco alone. While selling Argan oil at a better price in Morocco, the latter earned tens of millions more.
The US market is only a model of other foreign markets that import argan oil.
Demands to redress rights holders and producers
The argan tree is associated with the cultural and cultural heritage of the inhabitants of Souss Massa Draa in southern Morocco and is the only resource for the inhabitants of the region in terms of development and agricultural qualifications.
Women working in the Moroccan staff sector are making a great effort to collect the nucleus, extract the walnut and extract oil, for a fee not exceeding $ 15 for four days of work.
In recent years, the voices calling for the fairness of the producers of staff or cooperatives and companies operating in the sector have been rising for many years.
In this context, the General Federation of the General Staff, which aims to unite the visions at the production level, has seen the reduction of intermediaries within the sector and the promotion of the Moroccan brand, the geographical indicator of oil prices in international markets.
The head of the federal Mohamed Awreys explains that there is a search for a solution to the difference between the price of reference sales in Morocco and the price marketed abroad which does not do justice to Moroccan producers.
"We are trying to solve the problem in federalism by directly valuing the product at the level of Morocco," he said, adding that this would enable producers to make a reasonable profit.