In the Tangier markets, stalls are displaying sharply rising prices for basic vegetables such as tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, peppers and green beans. Tomatoes sell for between 9 and 11 dirhams per kilo, while peppers sell for 9 dirhams and cucumbers for almost 7 dirhams. As for the price of peas, it now peaks at around 16 dirhams per kilo. As we suspect, such an outbreak is not without effect on household budgets, especially those with modest incomes.
The Tangier wholesale market, operational for five years, remains an essential link in local supply. Every day, trucks from production regions, notably Souss, unload tons of goods intended for local traders. This constant flow guarantees an abundance of products, but not price stability.
«The price of some vegetables has increased dramatically in recent weeks, making it more difficult. We try to offer affordable prices, but the situation is beyond our control», declares a vegetable seller, in despair.
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According to several traders, the factors behind this outbreak include persistent drought, the decline in local harvests, but also the resumption of exports to European and African countries. These exports, although vital for the national economy, limit the availability of certain products on the domestic market, mechanically creating pressure on prices.
Despite everything, the wholesale market stalls continue to offer a variety of vegetables, particularly seasonal products which attract many customers during this winter period. However, meeting household needs at fair prices remains an obstacle for traders and in the meantime, families in Tangier must deal with increasingly tight budgets to fill their tables.
