Some 5.8 million heads of sheep and goats destined for slaughter have been identified, the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, Mohamed Sadiki, announced on Monday. response to an oral question in the House of Representatives on preparations for Eid Al-Adha.
The identification operation is still continuing, added Sadiki, assuring that the supply exceeds the demand estimated at 5.6 million heads, including 5 million sheep and 600,000 goats and that the national herd is in good condition. health. In addition, he indicated that 214,000 breeding units have been registered for the preparation of slaughter, indicating that with regard to communication and awareness-raising operations on good health practices for the feeding and fattening of sacrifices of Eid, 1,300 follow-up field missions were carried out.
With regard to the control operations carried out by the local joint commissions, the Minister confirmed that they have allowed the issuance of six reports of offenses after seizing and destroying unauthorized veterinary drugs in several regions, and l issuance of two offenses for the use of chicken waste in fodder with the application of the legal procedure against the offenders.
In the same vein, he recalled that every year as usual, and in preparation for Eid Al-Adha, the ministry began, since the beginning of last January, to set up the preparation program , which is based on several procedures, mainly related to field data, to the procedure for monitoring the route through the registration of the breeding and fattening units of sheep and goats as well as the identification of the heads of sheep and goats for slaughter.
In terms of health, the ministry ensured the monitoring, health control and protection of livestock against infectious diseases, control of fodder and veterinary drugs used, control of water supply for livestock, in addition to the creation of 34 temporary markets for sheep and goats, in partnership with the Ministry of the Interior.
On support for herders, Sadiki highlighted the continued support for fodder, livestock supply, pasture preparation, and the suspension of value added tax on certain fodder, as well as a accurate assessment of the supply and demand of livestock intended for slaughter, in coordination with professionals.
In addition, the Minister noted that the continuation of drought and inflation during this year has led to an increase in production costs, and forced the government to import on an exceptional and temporary basis in order to preserve the national herd and stabilize consumer prices, by exempting the import of sheep from customs duties and by granting support for the import of sheep intended for slaughter, set at 500 dirhams per head.