Morocco’s governing council chaired by Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch, adopted a draft decree to temporarily suspend import duties on domestic cattle on Wednesday October 19.
The draft decree seeks to ensure a normal supply of beef in the local market by suspending import duties on domestic cattle that weigh 550 kilograms or more until December 31, 2023, said a statement from the Ministry in charge of Relations with Parliament.
The draft decree, presented by Fouzi Lekjaa, Minister Delegate to the Minister of Economy and Finance in charge of the budget, comes in response to Morocco’s alarming water scarcity, the rise in red meat production costs, and the growing livestock feed prices due to global market fluctuations, according to the same statement.
In light of the country’s soaring inflation, meat product prices increased by 1.4%.
According to the ministry, this measure makes up a negligible portion of the country’s production and will not have a negative effect on Morocco’s domestic red meat industry.
ALSO READ: Banque Central Popularize and EIB signed a partnership agreement to Boost Competitiveness of Morocco’s SMEs
Additionally, cattle importers will be notified on the terms regarding the breed of domestic cattle intended for slaughter.
Morocco has recently adopted measures to address its water scarcity crisis. On September 28, the country’s Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and the Ministry in charge of the budget decided to discontinue irrigation subsidies for avocado, watermelon, and citrus fruit cultivation.
King Mohammed VI has also called for fresh and urgent action to tackle Morocco’s water crisis in his speech during the opening of the legislative year.
Additionally, Morocco’s National Office for Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) launched the National Program for the Supply of Drinking Water and Irrigation 2020-2027.
The program aims to increase the current 18 billion cubic meter capacity of Moroccan dams to 27 billion.
SOURCE: Morocco news
