King's Call: Moroccans Urged to Forego Sheep Slaughter for Eid Amid Drought Crisis

King Mohammed VI has announced that Moroccans should refrain from slaughtering sheep for Eid al-Adha this year, citing a dramatic 40% decrease in the country's sheep herds, mainly because of a seven-year drought. This annual celebration commemorates the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God. Traditionally, Muslims slaughter sheep during this time, sharing the meat with family and giving to those in need. In his televised address, the king expressed concern about the negative impact such practices could have on those with limited incomes, particularly under the current challenging conditions.

The king’s plea echoes a similar request made by his father in 1966 during another drought period. With the last decade seeing a 38% reduction in sheep numbers due to harsh pasture conditions, meat prices have soared, prompting the government to import 100,000 sheep from Australia to counter the shortage.

Agriculture Minister Ahmed Bouari further elaborated on the situation, highlighting that the country's focus on water allocation for critical sectors like transportation and industry has severely affected agricultural outputs. In a bid to stabilize the meat market, Morocco has recently lifted import tax and VAT on cattle, sheep, camels, and red meat, but the repercussions of the ongoing drought remain pronounced.