Doha – As Ramadan officially begins tomorrow, Morocco has activated the national hotline number 5757 for consumer complaints and observations during the holy month.
This initiative comes amid rising concerns about food prices, particularly affecting essential items that feature prominently on Iftar tables across the country.
The short, unified national telephone number 5757 has been put into service to receive consumer complaints and observations regarding market supply, prices, quality, and safety of consumer products during Ramadan.
It also allows citizens to report cases of fraud, illegal commercial practices, unfair competition, and other infractions that may require intervention from competent control services.
Citizens throughout Morocco can dial this number from fixed or mobile phones connected to national telecommunications networks to directly contact consumer complaint reception and monitoring cells established in various provinces and prefectures.
The service will be available throughout Ramadan, every day from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Calls to this number are charged by national telecommunications operators at the same price as a call to a standard landline, based on the caller’s subscription type, without any additional costs or fees.
This initiative is part of measures announced following the meeting of the Interministerial Commission for Market Supply and Price Monitoring held on February 4.
National markets experience exceptional activity during Ramadan due to high household demand for food products that are essential on Iftar tables, according to authentic Moroccan traditions.
Authorities are intensifying efforts to ensure sufficient and regular supply of basic food products while strengthening control mechanisms to protect consumers against illegal practices.
“The government has implemented numerous measures to ensure product availability for citizens, while maintaining optimal health conditions and prices adapted to their purchasing power,” previously stated Nadia Fettah, Minister of Economy and Finance.
The price of tradition in Ramadan?
Despite official reassurances, many Moroccan households worry about the traditional price increases that accompany Ramadan. In souks and supermarkets, there is an abundance of products including dried fruits, dates, honey, almonds, semolina, and other essentials for preparing Ramadan dishes.
However, the exponential rise in prices concerns consumers, who are calling for strengthened controls to prevent abusive speculation.
The approaching Ramadan period has been marked by an unusual controversy over fish prices, particularly sardines. A young fishmonger in Marrakech, Abdelilah El Jabouni, owner of “Le Port de Marrakech,” created a stir by selling sardines at MAD 5 per kilogram, while the same fish is sold for between MAD 15 and 20 in coastal cities like Casablanca and Rabat.
This jarring price difference has prompted debate about the role of intermediaries in Morocco’s fish supply chain. Experts explain that between landing at the port and sale to the consumer, sardine prices can multiply by seven due to multiple intermediaries.
According to fishing industry experts, several factors are affecting sardine availability this year, including climate change, which has altered fish distribution patterns, and overfishing, which has depleted stocks.
A biological rest period was implemented in southern fisheries for one and a half to two months during January and February to allow marine fauna to regenerate, which requires additional time before fisheries return to their usual production.
Beyond economic concerns, Ramadan serves as a golden tide of opportunity for certain seasonal merchants. Traditional pastry vendors see their business peak during this time, with demand particularly strong during the months of Sha’ban and Ramadan.
Dates are another staple product of the holy month, with Moroccan stalls offering various qualities of both local and imported varieties at generally affordable prices.
Ramadan presents itself as a unique moment in the lives of Moroccans, balancing culinary traditions with economic challenges.
The government has committed to monitoring markets closely to combat fraud, monopoly, and all forms of speculation to preserve citizens’ purchasing power.
Read also: Social Media Activists Call for Sardines’ Boycott over Prices Controversy
