Government says wheat stock to last another 5 months, alerts future inconsistency

Morocco has a sufficient wheat stock for an additional 5 months, according to Government Spokesperson Mustapha Baitas, who assured that the national reserves of fuel also meet the national need for upcoming months.

During the press conference subsequent to this week’s government council, Baitas stated that “ fuel prices are subject to variations almost daily.”

Although Morocco has a sufficient stock of wheat, the government will not be able to provide the entire strategic stock of food, energy, and health supplies this year, due to the high prices and shortage of materials in the international market.

At the opening of the 2021 legislative year, King Mohammed VI called for the creation of an integrated national system related to the strategic stockpile of basic materials, especially for food, health and energy, in a way that enhances the country’s strategic security.

Baitas explained that “the government has focused on the issue of providing the strategic stock of basic materials since the end of October 2021, when the prices of basic materials were affordable,” but that the strategy faltered as a result of what the international arena is witnessing at present, in reference to the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The spokesman admitted the difficulty of providing the strategic stock of basic materials in light of the current climate, saying that it “requires public policies and funds,” adding that “this year was not favorable since the beginning.”

The government is counting on the recent rains in order to improve the Kingdom’s stock of foodstuffs, with Baitas confirming that “the agricultural sector has witnessed a slight recovery that will have positive results,”  especially at the level of the livestock sector, which will contribute to improving growth.

The slight improvement is mainly due to recent rains, which have alleviated the effects of an unprecedented drought in the Kingdom.

“Morocco is geographically far from the area of tension in Eastern Europe, but the war is occuring in a strategic region, that supplies the world with a number of basic materials, and this is a reality that cannot be ignored, in light of which it is difficult to provide the strategic stock of basic materials,” explained the official.

On the other hand, the government spokesperson denied the existence of any government reshuffle on the horizon, after news spread that the formation of Akhannouch’s government may be subject to changes, “there is no direct government reshuffle this year,” concluded Baitas.