In response to an oral question in the House of Councillors, Mr. Sadiki explained that the supply is estimated at around 7.8 million head, including 6.3 million sheep and 1.5 million goats, thus exceeding demand, which is estimated at around 5.6 million head.
The minister also reassured about the health status of the national herd, noting the continuation of communication and awareness campaigns on good health practices for feeding and fattening animals.
In this regard, he pointed out that the services of the ministry carried out more than 2,500 control missions on the ground, during which samples of meat and livestock fodder as well as samples of drinking water were taken, noting that 837 certificates of authorization to pass for poultry waste have been issued.
Mr. Sadiki recalled that the preparations of his Department for Eid Al-Adha started, as every year, at the beginning of January, through the establishment of a special program for the occasion, which extends until the last week after Eid. And to specify that this program is based on several processes which concern field data, as well as the monitoring and evaluation of the expectations of the supply and demand of the Eid livestock, in coordination with the professionals, and through the identification of sheep and goat breeding and fattening units, and the counting of sheep and goat heads for slaughter.
The measures taken also include health monitoring and control, protection of livestock against infectious diseases, monitoring of feed and veterinary drugs used and monitoring of livestock drinking water.
From a logistical point of view, the Minister mentioned the setting up of 34 temporary sheep and goat markets, and the holding of meetings with supermarkets to allocate places for the marketing of sheep, especially those imported, while announcing the consumer price.
As regards support for stockbreeders, Mr. Sadiki explained that the subsidies linked to fodder, the supply of livestock, the preparation of pastures and the suspension of the value added tax (VAT) on certain fodder continue. He noted that due to the drought and inflation that have led to the high cost of production, the government has resorted to the exceptional and temporary opening of imports to protect the national herd and guarantee price stability at consumption, by exempting the import of sheep from customs duties and VAT, and granting a subsidy for the import of sheep intended for slaughter within the limit of 500 dirhams per head.
