(29 Jul 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
++PARTIALLY COVERED++
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tidzi, Morocco – 22 May 2025
1. Various of a worker placing argan kernels in the grinder to extract the oil
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Agadir, Morocco – 24 May 2025
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Jamila Id Bourrous, director, Union of Women’s Cooperatives of the Arganeraie UCFA Tissaliwine: ++PARTIALLY COVERED++
"Women are the ones who represent the argan sector, and it was in their name that the vital area of argan trees was recognized in 1998.”
3. Wide of Jamal Id Bourrous walking through a room
4. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Jamila Id Bourrous, director, Union of Women’s Cooperatives of the Arganeraie UCFA Tissaliwine: ++COVERED++
“Furthermore, the traditional skills and knowledge were inscribed on UNESCO’s (cultural heritage) list in 2014. Today, we say that women in cooperatives should regain the position they once held, because despite the increase in the number of cooperatives, we observe a decline on the economic side."
5. Various of women workers cracking argan nuts with stones to extract the inner seeds
6. SOUNDBITE (Amazigh) Fatma Mennir, worker, cooperative "Ajddigue": ++PARTIALLY COVERED++
"We grew up with argan and inherited it from our grandparents. From childhood until now, it has been our only source of livelihood."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Smimou, Morocco – 22 May 2025
7. Various of goats around argan trees
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rabat, Morocco – 4 June 2025
8. SOUNDBITE (French) Zoubida Charrouf, Professor at Mohammed V University: ++PARTIALLY COVERED++
"The argan forest faces numerous challenges. First and foremost is climate change. The region has experienced six consecutive years of drought, which has significantly reduced production (Afiache). Second is overgrazing. There are many goats and camels in the argan forest that feed on the leaves and fruits of the argan trees. Then, there’s the issue of poor regeneration. The lack of natural regeneration has been ongoing since 1991, according to a researcher. And even though efforts have been made to rehabilitate the argan forest — with 200,000 hectares planted in recent years — the results remain very limited."
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Smimou, Morocco – 22 May 2025
9. Various of goats in and around argan trees
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sidi El Jazouli, Morocco – 22 May 2025
10. Various of a tractor watering the saplings
ASSOCIATED PRESS –
Sid’Ahmed Aouhamd, Morocco – 22 May 2025
11. Various shots of a worker grinding argan oil with a traditional stone mill
12. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Yasmine Tiboukka, worker at the cooperative "Marjana":
"As a young woman working in the argan oil sector, one of the reasons I love this field is because it is a cultural heritage. I want to help preserve it from extinction and encourage other young people to develop the same interest."
13. Mid of workers peeling argan seeds
14. Wide of Yasmine Tiboukka supervising the workers
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tidzi, Morocco – 22 May 2025
15. Wide of an argan trees at the entrance of a cooperative
16. Mid of argan seeds drying under the sun
STORYLINE:
Argan oil runs through your fingers like liquid gold — hydrating, luscious, and restorative. Prized worldwide as a miracle cosmetic, it’s more than that in Morocco. It’s a lifeline for rural women and a byproduct of a forest slowly buckling under the weight of growing demand.
To make it, women crouch over stone mills and grind down kernels. One kilogram — roughly two days of work — earns them around $3, enough for a modest foothold in an economy where opportunities are scarce. It also links them to generations past.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/c75df6b944694fab9df08e6e68420296
Author: AP Archive
Go to Source
News post in August 3, 2025, 12:05 am.
Visit Our Sponsor’s:
News Post In – News
