Calm Celebrations Amidst Rising Costs
In the serene atmosphere of Casablanca, the streets are unusually quiet, and the usual hustle and bustle of traffic has significantly diminished as the city prepares for Eid al-Adha. The air is filled with the enticing aroma of grilled meats wafting from rooftops, where groups of young people gather around makeshift braziers, skillfully roasting the heads of sheep. Among them is 24-year-old Ayyoub, who watches the scene unfold with a smile. Having sacrificed a sheep early in the morning, he expresses his joy, stating, "I feel very happy because my family is happy. Eid is a family celebration." This year, Ayyoub has taken on the responsibility of providing for his family's needs during the religious holiday, having received assistance from relatives who own sheep in the mountains. "For me, it’s easier because I have family who live in the mountains and have sheep. It’s clean, and I know what I consume. I ordered a sheep over three months ago, so I didn’t pay a high price for it," he adds.
The Challenge of Rising Livestock Prices in Morocco
Ayyoub spent 3,500 dirhams, approximately 340 euros, for his sheep, a significant decrease compared to last week when prices in Casablanca markets were sometimes double that amount. As a building caretaker and a father of three, he utilizes a blowtorch to prepare the sheep's head in the garage of his residence, joyfully declaring, "Happy Eid Mubarak to all Moroccans and all Muslims!" This year, he has exhausted all his savings to afford a sheep for sacrifice. Reflecting on the previous year, he recalls, "Last year, our king—may God support him—sacrificed for us and took care of us. This year, the sheep are available at 80%, but people see that the meat remains expensive, still very expensive. There was rain this year, and there were state aids, but the high prices persist." Despite a government subsidy exceeding 100 million euros aimed at the livestock sector, there has been no significant decrease in animal prices, sparking intense debate across the country.
As reported by fr.news.yahoo.com.
