Definitely and for a few years now, the holy month of Ramadan has never ceased as it approaches to hum its sad tunes of soaring prices. They affect certain products in Morocco and of course, they impact the purchasing power of the citizen and even affecting the so-called lambda or even more.
This year, perhaps more than another, Moroccan society carries with it a State of mind of collective dissatisfaction, particularly with regard to the executive, due to the deterioration of the social situation resulting from high prices, the impact of which is in reality none other than inflation, which came close to the 9% mark at 8.9% last January. This is how foodstuffs and other therefore undergo price inflation precisely, and will stabilize this crisis which we wanted to be cyclical in structural terms, to become the “way of life” of the daily life of the citizen.
It is known, to on the eve of Ramadan, the price of food increases. It is so over here. The phenomenon is both classic and customary. Our souks and markets havent already experienced, notwithstanding Ramadan, a sharp increase in the price of raw materials and necessary for daily consumption and this does not seem to have changed, apart from those of the tomato which have fallen by half a bit like to confirm the famous exception which makes the rule, the other vegetables not knowing this fate. It should also be noted that the prices of poultry and red meat, which to a lesser degree, have fallen significantly.
But let it be said, these foodstuffs are not within the reach of all budgets and particularly the most vulnerable. We had then sheathed the same “praises” to justify these increases due to the “international situation” through the conflict in Ukraine which had caused food and hydrocarbons to flare up across the planet. The world then experienced generalized inflation which led, at least for the rest of us, to a severe collapse in purchasing power for several categories of the population.
And for good reason ! The increase in the prices of food products and transport reaches almost a third (30 to 35%) hence, according to the High Commission for Planning (HCP) ” the drop in the confidence index of Moroccan families “. Admittedly, some measures have been taken by the government to curb this phenomenon, especially since in recent years other climatic events have interfered to create a total “party”. But have these efforts been sufficient? It would seem not since the basket of the housewife is these days, stripped more than ever.
From where, the need to intervene again and again to ensure food security in the first place as an institutional response. Admittedly, it is not easy to fight several fires at once, especially after having just put out the pandemic one. But for the government, other exogenous events have come to orbit the phenomenon, conflict in Ukraine, energy crisis, drought, cold snap, imported inflation, ditto ditto…
In this cinema, we understand the disarray of the housewife at the approach of the holy month. Inflation affects two-thirds of the food sector and one-fifth of transport and, according to the HCP, the most affected are the vulnerable, especially those in rural areas. A phenomenon that is going crescendo over the past two years, even if the executive is trying to take into account the economic situation in its complexity, lower prices are not for tomorrow, especially with the ecosystem local, these famous “intermediaries” make “rain and shine”.
And this is not likely to get better anytime soon despite state efforts, butane gas subsidy soft wheat (10 billion dirhams) which constitutes (80% of cereal consumption in Morocco) electricity which has remained unchanged thanks to subsidies granted to ONEE, support for transport professionals, control to fight against speculation … and others.
But even so, a housewife in trouble and her basket, Ramadan will remain in the realm of apprehension this year because on the ground the reality is quite different and many sometimes necessary foodstuffs will run out.