This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
Heba Press – Abdel Latif Baraka
In a scene that did not occur to many, poultry, which was considered one of the main foods on Moroccan tables, has become a difficult commodity to obtain given the continued rise in its prices . What was once an affordable daily food for many Moroccan families is now out of reach for large sections of society.
Reports indicate that poultry prices have exceeded the threshold of 25 dirhams per kilo in many cities, sparking discontent among citizens who bought it at prices as low as 8 dirhams during the Covid-19 pandemic. This sudden rise in prices has caused many to refrain from purchasing or resort to staggered purchasing to try to adapt to the high prices.
Professionals, in turn, are facing major challenges due to this drop in demand. A number of traders revealed that the severe market recession has become a distinctive feature of the sector recently as citizens are no longer able to purchase poultry as usual. “Purchasing power has been significantly degraded and people can no longer afford these high prices,” says one of the professionals, stressing that the situation has become extremely difficult.
This situation has prompted many market participants to call on the authorities to intervene to determine ways to support the sector and ensure a drop in prices, stressing that returning prices to reasonable levels would serve as a lifesaver for many families.
For its part, the Interprofessional Federation of the Poultry Sector confirmed that the increase in prices is mainly due to inflation in the cost of production, in addition to the effects of the increase in the price of red meat, which has prompted many citizens to turn to poultry as a food alternative. They also highlighted that intermediaries in the distribution chain play a major role in driving up prices, even though they are an important link in the business process.
But hope remains placed in the search for innovative solutions, as the Minister in charge of Agriculture confirmed during a meeting with the Federal Reserve that the crisis could find a solution by encouraging the assembly system and developing industrial slaughterhouses. Experts emphasize the need to radically change production and distribution methods with the aim of reducing marginal costs and achieving a balance between supply and demand.
The question remains: will a breakthrough soon be achieved in this vital sector? Will poultry return to Moroccan tables in a way that reflects the purchasing power of ordinary citizens?
