Morocco Faces Sharp Rise in Chicken and Egg Prices as Demand Surges

The price of a kilo of chicken varies between 20 and 22 dirhams. As for the price of eggs, it has exploded in recent days. An egg costs more than 1.50 dirhams. In an interview with Hespress, Dr. Bouazza Kherrati, president of the Moroccan Federation of Consumer Rights, justifies the surge in prices of poultry and its derivatives. "Given that the prices of red meats are too expensive and those of fish as well, people are turning to poultry. In this context, of course, demand is increasing and consequently prices are soaring," he explains, deploring the fact that there is no longer a balance between red meats, fish and white meat. Currently, a kilo of red meat costs no less than 100 DH. Fish prices are also experiencing a sharp increase.

The other cause of this surge in poultry and derivative prices is the increase in the price of animal feed. All prices have soared internationally before falling recently. But the drop in prices has not caused a drop in poultry prices in Morocco. "In Morocco this is not the case, prices have not fallen, it is the same as for fuel and we wonder why it increases automatically? Unfortunately, even if prices fall internationally, this is not reflected in the domestic market and it is the same for many other food or other products," assures Dr. Bouazza Kherrati.

Another cause? "Moreover, according to some professionals, it is also said that those who run this sector have agreed with those managing the hatcheries not to flood the market with an excessive production of chicks. Which consequently contributes to this dearness of white meat," further explains the president of the Moroccan Federation of Consumer Rights, adding that poultry is 99% dependent on the foreign market. "Everyone defends their freedoms. Poultry producers do not want to go through the slaughterhouses, which means that 90% of poultry production is sold informally. In all countries, whatever they are, there is a contract between producers and slaughterhouses. It is the latter, through their planning, who place the order and the breeders, produce and supply according to the price," continues the consumer rights activist, noting that this system does not exist in Morocco.

In Morocco, the poultry sector is one of the most dynamic sectors in agriculture. It generates a turnover of $36.9 billion and creates 142,000 direct jobs, as well as 328,000 indirect jobs in 2022. Dr. Bouazza Kherrati calls on the authorities to regulate the sector, particularly in terms of competitiveness, to see the horizontal or vertical effects between professionals.