Moroccan consumer protection groups warned that continued increases in food prices, particularly for basic fruits and vegetables, are placing growing pressure on low-income households as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan approaches.
Consumer associations in Oulad Teima and the Souss-Massa region said in statements that recurring problems in market oversight tend to resurface ahead of Ramadan, when household spending typically rises.
Ali Chtour, head of the Moroccan Association for the Defense of Consumer Rights, called for tighter and sustained monitoring of prices, citing declining purchasing power among Moroccan consumers.
“Ramadan significantly increases household expenses due to higher consumption,” Chtour said. He urged the government to intervene to curb price manipulation by speculators and middlemen, arguing that market oversight should be enforced year-round rather than on a seasonal basis.
Chtour said prices should be governed by supply and demand under fair competition, not by what he described as crisis profiteering. He also placed partial responsibility on consumers, saying purchasing choices, including boycotting high-priced goods or reducing quantities, can help pressure markets to stabilize prices. He criticized widespread food waste during Ramadan and called for a shift from excessive consumption to more careful spending.
Omar El Yadi, a member of the Moroccan Federation of Consumer Rights, said prices for some vegetables have declined slightly from recent peaks but remain well above acceptable levels.
He attributed persistently high prices to weather-related disruptions, including rainfall and muddy conditions that have slowed harvesting. Flooding in the Gharb region has damaged large areas of onion and potato fields, he said, warning that prices for both products could rise further in the coming days.
El Yadi stressed the need for early government intervention to rein in speculation and reduce the number of intermediaries, particularly in major wholesale markets such as Bouznika and Inzegane. He called for stricter oversight in the week leading up to Ramadan and during its early days to prevent price exploitation driven by surging demand.
He also warned of a sharp crisis in the fish sector, noting that sardine prices have reached about 40 dirhams per kilogram ahead of Ramadan due to weather conditions and the biological rest period. He urged consumers to consider alternative food options to avoid further price pressure.
El Yadi further cautioned against food fraud during Ramadan, including the sale of margarine mixed with milk as traditional butter and the circulation of expired goods. He also criticized the rise of informal seasonal trade that lacks basic health and safety standards.
Both consumer advocates pointed to a shortage of market inspectors, saying a limited number of officials are responsible for monitoring vast areas, including dozens of municipalities in provinces such as Taroudant, raising concerns that rising prices will continue to burden vulnerable households through Ramadan.
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