Morocco Faces Escalating Meat Prices Amid Drought and Supply Chain Challenges

Friday 09 August 2024 - 13:45

Morocco is currently experiencing a severe meat crisis, with the cost of beef and lamb soaring above 100 MAD, leaving many citizens struggling to afford these essential foods.

This significant price hike, ongoing for nearly two years, has sparked widespread public discontent and placed immense pressure on household budgets.

Hicham al Jawabri, the regional secretary for wholesale meat traders and urban slaughterhouses in Casablanca, attributes the surge to consecutive years of drought, which have drastically reduced the national livestock population.

"Years of drought have driven up feed costs, making it difficult for Moroccan farmers and breeders to sustain their herds, forcing them to reduce livestock numbers and increase slaughter rates," he explained.

Economist Youssef Guerraoui Filali noted that these price increases became particularly pronounced after Eid al-Adha in 2023, when the cost of sacrificial animals began to rise sharply.

"The scarcity of rain-fed grazing and the high cost of feed have severely impacted livestock farming, leading to a 30% rise in sacrificial animal prices compared to the previous year," Filali observed.

Despite government efforts to support livestock imports, a lack of effective measures to ensure market supply has resulted in continued shortages and price hikes, with costs climbing 40% to 50% in 2024.

Compounding the problem, new government regulations in November 2023 require imported cattle to be fattened before slaughter, adding costs and causing delays.

These rules mandate that imported cattle remain in their country of origin for 30 to 40 days before being transported to Morocco, incurring additional expenses and delaying market readiness.

This change, along with Morocco's insufficient self-sufficiency in slaughter cattle, has led to a supply shortage and further price increases, according to media reports.

Exporting countries, especially in Europe, have shown reluctance to meet the new fattening regulations due to the added costs, such as health monitoring during the extended stay. These countries have responded by raising their prices.

Moreover, European health regulations, like the restriction of cattle transport time to eight hours, have further complicated Moroccan importers' efforts, exacerbating supply shortages and driving prices higher.

In response to the escalating meat prices, Minister of Agriculture Mohamed Sadiki convened a meeting with red meat industry professionals in Rabat, where three significant decisions were reached.

These measures include drafting a comprehensive livestock breeding law to address the declining livestock population in Morocco.

Participants also agreed to maintain support for livestock feed and consider importing animal feed to bolster food security amid persistent drought conditions.

Additionally, the Minister committed to developing drought-resistant fodder crops, such as white corn, regulating artificial insemination, and preserving female livestock. Further meetings are planned to implement these strategies.