Inflation is already a part of Ramadan. For the second year in a row, Moroccans are starting this month of the Muslim calendar with their eyes fixed. pocket. A lot of conversations are also cornered by what core products boost: “Currently, milk has increased the most“says a young man sitting in a cafe. In a global context, war-torn Ukraine, drought It has been dragging the Maghreb country for three years.
Inside Rabat central market There are many people who have finished their shopping to prepare the iftar for the sunset. HE tomatoes ‘ is one of the most demanded products as it is a base for preparing.harira‘, a very popular soup with chickpeas and meat in the country. A kilo is 12 dirhams (1.20 euros), more expensive than usual. HE fish It is also one of the favorite products for this time of year. The owner of the counter, Fehd, explains that this month is the month with the highest sales. “Demand is high, prices always rise in Ramadan, but especially this year because of the increase in food prices. fuel. We already buy expensive from intermediaries and we have no choice but to raise the price.“, mint.
weight this year history Although some shops in the Rabat medina declared that they did not notice this increase and the price was maintained, it increased by about one euro and production fell by about 20% because it did not rain. “We have Moroccan dates, but we also have Algerian, Tunisian or Saudi Arabian dates,” explains Zakaria, who owns a small shop on the main street of the Rabat medina. It is one of the products that cannot be given up on Ramadan tables.It is estimated that each Moroccan consumes an average of more than three kilograms of dates per year. “It gives us energy to last the whole day. Normally we break the fast with dates,” explains the seller.
“This Ramadan will be a little different. Youssef, a youth living in the city, says that much consumed milk, tomatoes or dates has become very expensive. “The onion is 15 dirhams (and a half euros) per kilo, so I’ve never seen it. It’s unique this year”. Even in many homesiftar‘, the meal in which the fast is broken after the sun goes down. It’s a special moment often shared with family and friends, she explains.
limiting exports
Annual CPI rose almost 9% in this month of January. food products reached 16.8%, according to the data of the High Commissioner for Planning. Moroccan government to lower prices limited fruit and vegetable exports Although outside the country, this measure has also disturbed the farmers in the Agadir region in the south of the country.
This week, ranchers met with the Ministry of Agriculture to protest this decision, according to digital Le360’s report. They regret causing them to lose because the selling price is below the production price. They also argue that they have promised to strike a balance between what they sell in Morocco and what they export to “protect the purchasing power of citizens”.
from Mohammed Moroccan Social FrontThe platform, which has held several protests in recent months, explains that Moroccans today live an extraordinarily expensive life:we have never experienced this. Agricultural products produced in Morocco are sold to Europe cheaper than in Moroccan markets.” This activist explains that vegetables or fish pass through three or four intermediaries before reaching the market, and regrets that there is no law to regulate this speculation.” Ultimately, it is the citizen who pays. highest price“, To explain.