OULAD SLAMA, MOROCCO – The countryside is usually bustling with life and excitement as the Eid Al-Adha holiday approaches. But this year, things are different. The streets are quieter, the markets are calmer, and the usual preparations for the holiday are not taking place. This is all due to a surprising announcement made by King Mohammed VI, urging Moroccans to forgo buying sheep for sacrifice during this year’s holiday.
For Larbi El Ghazouani, a 55-year-old farmer from Oulad Slama, this news came as a shock. He had been counting on selling the bulk of his 130 sheep to families preparing for the holiday. However, with the current circumstances, he expects to lose half of his investment. Like many other breeders, he has been hit hard by the seven-year drought that has decimated the country’s livestock and caused sheep prices to skyrocket.
King Mohammed VI, who is also Morocco’s highest religious authority, wrote a letter that was read on state-run television, explaining the reason behind this decision. In the letter, he stated that performing the sacrifice in these difficult times would cause harm to many families, especially those with limited income. The king’s concern for the well-being of his people is evident in his words, as he understands the struggles they are facing due to the current economic situation and the effects of climate change.
El Ghazouani, who has been breeding sheep for years, sympathizes with his neighbors who have been forced to stop breeding their livestock due to the drought. He also plans to continue breeding more ewes to be sold for next year’s holiday, but he knows that the cancellation of Eid festivities will deal a heavy blow to breeders like him.
The cost of feeding a sheep for one year has increased by 50%, from 1,000 Moroccan dirhams to 1,500 Moroccan dirhams. This is a significant increase that has put a strain on breeders, who have to spend a considerable amount of money on feed and other expenses to keep their sheep healthy and well-fed. For El Ghazouani, it has been a challenging and costly year, and he is preparing to wait for another year before he can sell his sheep.
Eid Al-Adha, also known as the “feast of sacrifice,” is a major holiday for Muslims around the world. It commemorates the story of the prophet Ibrahim, who was willing to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God, who then intervened and replaced the child with a sheep. It is a tradition deeply rooted in many countries, and families often take out loans to buy sheep for the sacrifice.
However, the prices of sheep have become so exorbitant that it has become a struggle for many families to afford them. According to a survey conducted by the Moroccan NGO Moroccan Center for Citizenship, 55% of families reported difficulty in covering the costs of purchasing sheep and the utensils needed for the sacrifice. Some families even resorted to taking out loans or borrowing money from acquaintances to buy the sacrificial sheep.
The rise in sheep prices can be attributed to the increasingly sparse pastures, which offer less grazing room and raise the costs of feed for herders and farmers. The country’s agricultural minister has reported that this season’s rainfall has been 53% below the annual average of the last 30 years. Additionally, the number of sheep and cattle herds has shrunk by 38% since 2016, when the last livestock census was conducted.
For many Moroccans, the price of a sheep can exceed their monthly household earnings, as the monthly minimum wage remains at 3,000 Moroccan dirhams. To keep prices stable, the government has subsidized and imported livestock from countries such as Romania, Spain, and Australia. This year, Morocco plans to import 100,000 sheep from Australia. The government has also removed import duties and VAT on livestock and red meat to ease the burden on families.
This is the first time in 29 years that Morocco has asked its citizens to forgo holiday feasting, which reflects the ongoing struggles with food prices despite the country’s economic transformation. Morocco has come a long way from being a predominantly agrarian nation to a mixed economy with modern infrastructure. However, the cost of food remains a challenge for many, and the king’s decision to cancel Eid festivities is a reminder of the importance of prioritizing
