Chicken prices in Morocco have climbed to as high as 25 dirhams ($2.50) per kilogram in recent days, a spike producers attribute to extreme heat that has killed poultry and slowed growth, particularly among small- and medium-scale farmers.
Industry representatives said the soaring prices are also linked to seasonal demand, fueled by the return of millions of Moroccans living abroad and the peak of the summer wedding season. They expect prices to ease by October, dropping to between 13 and 14 dirhams per kilogram.
At the farm level, prices have not fallen below 18.5 dirhams per kilogram around Casablanca, reaching or exceeding 21 dirhams in cities such as Tangier, Agadir, Marrakech and Ouarzazate, according to Mohamed Aboud, president of the National Association of Broiler Chicken Farmers. “Retail prices have crossed 25 dirhams in some areas,” he said.
Aboud blamed the heat waves for significant poultry losses, which he said have hit small and medium farmers hardest. He criticized the Agriculture Ministry for failing to support smaller operators, saying state assistance remains focused on larger companies that dominate the market.
“The Casablanca market, which usually receives 50 to 60 truckloads of poultry daily, is now seeing barely 20,” Aboud said. He added that while large companies have invested in heat-resistant production systems, small farmers lack access to such technology.
Poor feed quality and chicks sold outside legal standards have also worsened production challenges, Aboud said, leading to slower growth rates.
Mustapha Al-Muntasir, president of the National Association of Poultry Meat Producers, offered a different perspective. He argued that the recent heat reduced productivity but did not cause mass poultry deaths. He also cited higher demand, with nearly 5 million Moroccans from abroad returning home and weddings concentrated in late August.
Al-Muntasir predicted that prices will normalize within 10 days and could fall to 13 or 14 dirhams by October.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.