Moroccan Minister Slams Inflated Eid Sheep Prices Despite Government Subsidies

"During the last Eid al-Adha, we opened the import of sheep and meat and contributed 500 dirhams per operation for each imported ram. Yet they brought it in at 2,000 dirhams and sold it at 4,000 dirhams!" declared Nizar Baraka during a meeting held on Saturday in the center of the commune of Ouled Frej, in the province of El Jadida. He denounces the attitude of some sheep sellers who do not hesitate to raise prices despite the financial support granted by the government of Aziz Akhannouch before the last celebration of Eid al-Adha.

This speculation had exacerbated the difficulties of Moroccan families, stressed the leader of the Istiqlal party, adding that these practices exploit the difficult economic conditions to make exorbitant profits. Given its impact on the lives of Moroccans, he calls on the government to adopt stricter measures to regulate the markets and protect the purchasing power of citizens.

This speech by Baraka comes at a time when Moroccans’ concern is growing about the maintenance or not of the celebration of Eid al-Adha this year due to the continued rise in sheep prices and the difficult reconstitution of the national herd strongly impacted by the drought.