Moroccan markets are experiencing a significant surge in the prices of certain basic vegetables, notably tomatoes, the kilogram of which is once again close to 10 dirhams in several markets. Potatoes now reach 7 dirhams per kilogram, while sweet peppers sell at 8 dirhams/kg. This price increase worries consumers as the month of Ramadan approaches, a period marked by strong demand.
Abderrazak Chabi, president of the Casablanca Fruit and Vegetable Wholesale Market Association, attributes this increase in prices to the cold snap which is currently raging, heavily impacting agricultural production. According to him, Morocco is struggling to compensate for this supply deficit, largely because of “ frantic export » agricultural products to various international markets.
This sector professional emphasizes that national agricultural production is trying as best it can to satisfy local and international demand, but remains faced with major obstacles such as drought and extreme weather conditions, marked by intense cold waves. These factors disrupt harvests and disrupt the balance between supply and demand.
Chabi also recalls that at the end of last year, exports were relatively weak, limiting their impact on the local market. However, they have picked up again recently, driven by growing demand from European countries facing similar climatic conditions and harvest problems. This dynamic puts additional pressure on the national market.
-But not only that! He also deplores a change in export standards. In the past, exports to Europe were governed by strict quality criteria, which made it possible to keep part of the products for the national market at affordable prices, he explains. On the other hand, exports to African countries are now carried out according to less rigorous standards, favoring the massive shipment of local products and causing price instability on the national market.
Asked about the possible evolution of vegetable prices as Ramadan approaches, Chabi believes that this increase will persist as long as the pace of exports remains sustained. Stabilization can only occur in the event of a reduction in exports abroad.
Finally, Chabi points the finger at the authorities responsible for the agricultural sector, criticizing the absence of effective mechanisms to redirect products to other markets when local demand falls. He also notes that this dysfunction sometimes leads to drastic price drops, discouraging certain farmers who then prefer to turn to other crops.
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