Meet the Women Reclaiming Morocco’s Rose Industry

As she grew older, Temaghrite chose to remain within the industry. “I continued because it’s part of who we are,” she tells me, explaining that she was also drawn in by the sense of community. “We work side by side, talking, sometimes singing. Everyone has their own row, but we help each other. It feels more like a group effort than individual work.” There is a strong financial draw to the sector, too. “It’s very important, especially for families like ours,” the picker explains. “The harvest season brings money that helps us for months after.”

Mariam Tarhalt, a 27-year-old local picker, tells me she too relies on the work. “I didn’t start as a child like many others,” she says. “I was around 18 when I began. At that time, I needed to help my family financially.” The income Tarhalt earns during the season gives her a sense of financial independence. “I usually save part of it and use the rest for household needs,” she says. “It also helps me avoid depending too much on others, which is important to me.”

Still, the work is not without its uncertainties. “Some seasons are weaker than others, so you don’t always earn the same amount,” Tarhalt laments. “Another difficulty is that prices can change depending on demand.”

Photo: Annissa Durar

Photo: Annissa Durar

Since the beginning of the 21st century, efforts have emerged to diversify the market in order to tackle these low and fluctuating wages. Roses were once sold directly to middlemen or factories. Now, local cooperatives and independent businesses are offering women an alternative path. “Since 2008, supported by the “Plan Maroc Vert”, a lot of cooperatives have been established in the Kelâat M’gouna region,” Mohamdi explains. “These production facilities represent new economic opportunities, particularly for women, many of whom face economic and social exclusion.”

In a cooperative, the women are encouraged to sort, process, and distil the roses into products themselves. Alongside having an annual income, the profits are shared equally amongs the workers. “We have more control and earn more fairly,” Temaghrite says. The women are also given the chance to showcase their heritage at international and national agricultural fairs. “Thanks to the cooperatives, a lot of women leave their village for the first time in their lives,” Mohamdi says.