Morocco’s Sheep Supply Sufficient for Eid Al-Adha Despite Drought Challenges

"It is true that the national herd has suffered the consequences of 7 consecutive years of drought and the rampant inflation affecting livestock feed. But the sector has still been able to keep its head above water and absorb the shock," reassures Abderrahmane Mejdoubi to Le Matin. According to his explanations, the support measures put in place by the State, in particular the subsidy of barley intended for animal feed, have allowed breeders to recapitalize their herd, sometimes with suffering, but the situation is improving. According to ANOC, the birth process has resumed since October and is following an upward curve. This should make it possible to rebuild the herd in the coming months or even consolidate the supply for the month of sacrifice.

"If the operation of importing sheep intended for slaughter, authorized by the State with an exemption from VAT and customs duties, continues at a relatively intense pace over the next 2 to 3 months and we thus reach one million heads, the national herd should allow to meet the demand during the Eid Al-Adha festival," Mejdoubi is convinced, noting that many importers have already placed orders for sheep abroad in anticipation of the Feast of Sacrifice. In other words, the machine for preparing for Eid Al-Adha is running smoothly and it is "imprudent" or even "irresponsible" to spread erroneous information about the state of the national sector, he added.

In the eyes of the operator, a decision by the State to cancel Eid Al-Adha would be very detrimental to the sheep sector. "A potential cancellation of Eid Al-Adha could probably impact downward the prices of sheep meat on the market due to the fact that breeders will have to clear their herds prematurely. But the sector will never rise