As Eid Al-Adha nears, many Moroccans are preparing to partake in the traditional animal sacrifice that marks the celebration. However, this year’s festivities are overshadowed by significant challenges due to prolonged drought conditions that have severely impacted livestock fodder availability.
Farmers like Wahid Redouane have been struggling to maintain their sheep herds. The state, typically providing support in the form of two bags of fodder per farmer, has increased this aid to 30 bags this year. Yet, this remains insufficient. “Due to drought, we are sometimes forced to sell sheep in order to get money to buy fodder for the other remaining sheep,” Redouane explained. This necessity to sell off livestock has contributed to a steep rise in sheep prices.
At a local market in Berrechid, northwestern Morocco, the impact of these challenges is evident. Prices for sheep have seen a significant surge, ranging from 73 to 83 Dirhams (approximately 6.83 to 9.03 USD) per kilogram, resulting in an average sheep costing up to 160 dollars more than last year.
This steep rise in prices has driven many Moroccan buyers to look abroad, particularly to Spain, where sheep prices are comparatively lower. Lehcen Ziate, a sheep seller in Berrechid, noted that, “Moroccans could not manage the high prices of Moroccan sheep during their tours in the markets. That is why they were forced to buy Spanish sheep because their price is reasonable and may reach 67 dirhams (7.29 euros) per kilogram.”
The Moroccan Agriculture Ministry has reported that the country has imported 600,000 Spanish sheep this year to meet the demand. Despite these imports, many Moroccans are still shocked by the high costs they face. Local resident Abdelghani Chihab remarked on the varying prices he observed, stating, “The atmosphere is different this year. During my tour of the markets in the city of Berrechid, I noticed that prices have risen, but they differ from one market to another and also according to the quality of the sheep.”
Experts warn that these issues are likely to worsen. Mustapha Benramel, an environment expert and president of the Minaretes Ecological Association for Development and Climate, emphasized the need for Morocco to adapt to ongoing climate challenges. “Successive periods of drought will continue during the coming years, which will put Morocco in a crisis in terms of preserving its stock of livestock. This requires it to turn to modern livestock breeding,” he said.
With Eid al-Adha set to begin on June 17 in Morocco, the combination of rising prices and drought conditions presents a significant challenge for farmers and consumers alike, underscoring the urgent need for long-term solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change on agriculture and livestock.
