CCompared to the prices of red meat and poultry products which experienced a record surge, those of fruit and vegetables remained quite affordable despite some seasonal peaks. However, recently, they have started to rise again and everything seems to suggest that this should continue. Consumers are worried about the fact that this increase comes a month and a half before Ramadan.
In the opinion of professionals in the sector and experts, the increase, which began last November, can be explained by various factors, including the drought which impacted production, the cold snap which is currently raging and the start-up of export. For its part, the High Commission for Planning (HCP) announced an increase in the consumer price index (CPI), during this period, of 5.3% for fruits, and of 1.1 % for vegetables.
According to sector operators, “the same trend should continue in December 2024 and January 2025”. This price increase particularly affected early vegetables. Tomatoes, which represent the largest part of this category, have seen their prices increase from a range of 3.50-5 DH/kg a month ago, to 5-8 DH/kg currently. At the Casablanca wholesale market, many professionals confirmed this observation.
“We have recently noticed an increase in prices. Supply fell compared to normal, affecting high-consumption products such as tomatoes, potatoes, onions and also certain fruits. Stocks are getting smaller and smaller. It should be noted that wholesale markets are supplied directly from farms. We are used to this outbreak during the winter, because producers find it difficult to carry out the harvest. Working hours are shorter because the days are short and the nights are longer. As a result, working hours are not the same as in summer or during other seasons. Also, the harvests are carried out in a more complicated context accentuated by climatic hazards,” underlines Mohamed Joubel, secretary general of the Association of Wholesale Market Traders of Casablanca.
-For the month of Ramadan, he notes that “there is not much visibility. Uncertainties hover over this period, given that the agricultural season as a whole is going through a difficult phase marked by a significant water deficit. The drop in temperature and hail further complicate the situation. The export campaign, which started recently, should reduce the supply to the local market. Producers have commitments to their international customers that they must honor, otherwise they risk paying heavy penalties or the termination of their contracts. Exports should last until competing products from other countries, particularly Mediterranean ones, become available. The situation should return to normal from March.” For their part, the producers say nothing else. They are skeptical that the season will go well.
“The production campaign for early vegetables and other vegetables got off to a late start due to unfavorable weather conditions. In addition to the drought, we were faced with the unavailability of sufficient seeds and other inputs. We were also penalized by certain illnesses. At the end of autumn, we experienced high temperatures which caused the products to ripen early. This forced us to sell our crops at a loss and not stock up in sufficient quantities. It must be remembered that our foreign clients impose very rigorous standards on us. We are obliged to invest to ensure the certification of products and respect the required standards,” explains the Association of Fruit and Vegetable Producers (APEFEL).
