Costs of tomatoes in Morocco’s markets are still high, although farmers’ selling prices dropped to less than one dirham a kilogram after exports stopped.
Head of the Agricultural Producers Association Abdel Aziz Maanawi in Chtouka confirmed to Hespress AR that “tomatoes were sold in the Inezgane market ranging from MAD 1 and MAD 1,60 per kilogram, while some variation were sold for less than one dirham.”
However, Moroccans are still paying a whopping MAD 8 per kilogram, which is seven dirhams higher than the selling price of a farmer, even though tomatoes are sold all across the country.
“We are surprised at selling prices to the consumers, as producers, we sell at very low prices, even below the cost of production,” Maanawi stated.
He emphasized the need to “reconsider the sales chain so as to minimize the price gaps” and that “strong measures must be taken to combat the prices in the markets.”
The government decided to restrict the export of particular vegetables in response to a public discussion on the success of Morocco’s agricultural strategy.
Professionals and farmers attested to their inability to sell tomatoes for less than the cost of production, highlighting the fact that the cost of production approaches MAD 4.
The price per kilogram today, however, is around one dirham, which is “a big loss.”
The sharp increase in temperature over the past few days, combined with the reduction in the daily export quota for tomatoes, is the cause behind the drop in tomato prices.
The debate about rising prices is still raging, with citizens griping about the costs of basic consumer products, and taking to the streets in protest of the prolonged and continuous rise of prices.
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