Rabat – Potential bad news for Moroccan shoppers: Vegetable prices are witnessing a sharp rise due to several factories, including the delay in rainfall, the export of certain food products, and the rise in fuel prices.
According to Moroccan daily Al Ahdath, the prices of essential products like tomatoes, potatoes, onions, and carrots continue to climb. The price for 1 kilogram of potatoes and onions reached MAD 6, while 1 kilogram of carrots and turnips costs MAD 7. For tomatoes, the customer should pay MAD 8 for the same quantity.
The newspaper said that the prices are much higher than the normal selling prices in Casablanca’s wholesale markets. Al Ahdath noted that prices do not correspond in any way to those published by the Ministry of Agriculture, which showed more affordable prices for food products. The ministry says that 1 kilogram of tomatoes would cost the customer only MAD 3.42, while in market reality 1 kilo of potatoes is about MAD 4.10, according to the newspaper.
In November 22, the High Commission for Planning (HCP) issued a report revealing that vegetable prices increased by 2.2 percent, while non-food products and fuels both saw increases of 0.9 percent.
Al Ahdath added that the increase of the prices are affected by the rise by 15 to 35 percent in the cost of transport.
The delay in rainfall plays a big role in the increase of the prices. The export of vegetables such as tomatoes and zucchini, which are very much demanded in local markets, has also contributed to the rise of the these products.
