“I can’t believe it! That’s too much for low income people to afford! The government has to react quickly to find a solution to this concern.” That is my father’s voice each time when I talk to him and ask him about Morocco and the food prices. It has been almost eight years; the prices are going up without any break in Morocco. The cost of the food in my country makes the families struggle to make purchases. Climate condition, transportation costs and food distribution chains are the causes of the high food prices in Morocco.
One cause of the high cost prices of the food in Morocco is the weather condition which makes the prices of vegetables and fruits get higher. The result of rains plays an important role on adjusting the prices in my country. Sometimes, when we have a low rainfall or even drought, the prices rise. On the other hand, during some years we have a heavy rain, which destroys the farms that provide Morocco with the fresh products. As a result, the price of onions and carrot has risen from 4dirhams and 5dirhams to 8 and 9dirhams a kilogram which equal one dollar and some change. Also, because of the drought, the grass hopper insect caused a lot of damage in Morocco. Years ago, all Africa including Morocco had a lot of problems with the grasshopper and the immense damage they caused. These insects destroyed the fresh market growers’ farms during a short period. So, in both cases Morocco has a lack of product in the market, which makes the jobless and the low income people suffer from the higher prices of the basic food as vegetables, poultry… and daily living.
Another cause of high cost prices of food in morocco is the rise of the transportation prices. Raising the transportation cost prices plays an important role on high food pricing. Because of high gas prices which increased by 25% between January and February of this year, all the transportation in Morocco rose including food transportation. Also, since we have farms in specific cities, we have to transport the fresh food from the farms to different markets in my country. That makes drivers pay for the tall road prices which is always higher between the cities. Increasing gas prices and making drivers pay high prices in toll road makes the market short of some products.
Finally, the third cause of high prices in Morocco is the way my country distribute the food inside and outside the country. Morocco export different kind of goods to other countries especially in Europe. These products play an important role in Morocco’s Markets. For example, during some years when Morocco’s farms can’t produce the regular amount of products and at the same time he has to export the same product to other places, at that period the Morocco’s market has to struggle with the lack of products. That makes the prices rose. In the other hand, Morocco imports some kind of products from other countries like USA, UK, and China… Since this products are not made in Morocco, which makes them very expensive and hard to buy a big quantity from them. Exporting and importing goods helps the countries’ economy, but in the other hand this countries have to think about the right way to satisfy their people.
In Morocco, ether there is rains or drought, prices rose in both cases. They say that the government is currently working on ways to decrease the high prices in order to encourage people to make a lot of purchases. For me, it is hard to believe that the government will find a good solution for this issue because each time they say they will resolve something and they do not. It seems to me that our government leaders are weak. And, I am full of trust in the king of Morocco who will do his best to protect and save the power of the Moroccans purchases.
Morocco - The Unbelievable costs
11:59
Mr. Ifos