Agadir – Mohamed Daddouh, manager of the Adrar Netment Cooperative, is an artisan working to preserve Moroccan woodcraft while adapting it to current social and environmental realities.
The cooperative, based in Taroudant province, focuses on engraving and artistic work with juniper and argan wood, and also carries out beekeeping. For Daddouh, craftsmanship is more than a trade; it is a cultural responsibility passed down through generations.
In a podcast interview, he explains that the craft goes back to his ancestors, who worked with wood long before it was seen as an artistic profession. The area is rich in natural diversity, with argan, juniper, olive, and almond trees that have shaped local livelihoods.
Choosing argan and juniper wood was also a response to environmental challenges. Prolonged drought has damaged forest cover, leading Daddouh to connect craftsmanship with awareness about protecting the argan tree. “Argan is not just a tree,” he explains. “Moroccans understand its value, and our work reflects that importance.”
Through the cooperative, Daddouh has turned traditional craftsmanship into a source of income for rural youth. What began with a few artisans has grown into a collective that now includes many craftsmen and young people.
Some members earn a steady monthly income, allowing them to stay in their villages instead of moving to cities for work.
Beyond income, Daddouh sees craftsmanship as identity and expression. He says the engraved wooden pieces shown at exhibitions are the result of patience, skill, and creativity. “This work doesn’t come easily,” he says. “It is art and effort, not just traditional manufacturing.”
Adrar Netment took part in the International Argan Tree Fair, put on by National Agency for the Development of Oasis Zones and the Argan Tree (ANDZOA) just at the end of last year from December 19-29.
The annual event is a prominent way to give rural artisans visibility and inspire younger generations. He believes traditional crafts can provide real opportunities if they are valued and supported.
In his message to youth, Daddouh stresses perseverance and commitment. He says working with one’s hands, respecting heritage, and believing in local potential can open a meaningful path toward the future, without leaving one’s roots behind.
