Mohamed Sadiki, the Minister of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, and Water and Forests, revealed on Monday that as many as 5.8 million sheep and goats have been identified for the upcoming Eid Al-Adha celebrations.
Sadiki stated that this number includes 158,000 animals imported into the country, indicating a significant surplus of supply compared to demand.
During a session in the House of Councillors, Sadiki answered questions about the preparations for Eid Al-Adha, noting a slight decrease in both the sheep and goat populations compared to the previous year.
The number of sheep has decreased by 2%, totaling 20.3 million, while the number of goats has seen a 4% decline, with a total of 5.4 million.
The minister further revealed that 214,000 units for sheep and goat breeding and fattening have been registered for the Eid Al-Adha sacrifice.
An extensive assessment carried out by the ministry, in collaboration with industry professionals, predicts a total supply of 7.8 million animals this year, consisting of 6.8 million sheep and one million goats.
The forecast exceeds the estimated demand of about 6 million animals, including 5.4 million sheep and 600,000 goats.
Regarding health measures for the livestock, Sadiki assured the implementation of strict surveillance and health monitoring operations, along with protective measures against infectious diseases. He confirmed the overall good health condition of the national herd.
The minister also provided updates on surveillance efforts related to animal feed and veterinary drugs, reporting a total of 1,486 operations as of May 31.
The operations resulted in the drafting of six reports that have been forwarded to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, highlighting cases of illegal sales of veterinary drugs and seizures of non-compliant animal feed.
In terms of logistics, Sadiki emphasized the collaborative efforts with the Ministry of Interior, local authorities, and territorial communities to set up 34 temporary livestock markets nationwide. These measures aim to bolster the existing infrastructure in preparation for Eid Al-Adha.
MOROCCO WORLD NEWS
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