King Mohammed VI has advised Moroccans to refrain from performing the Muslim tradition of sacrificing sheep during Eid al-Adha this year due to a significant decrease in the country’s livestock population. This shortage is attributed to seven years of severe drought. Eid al-Adha, which takes place in June, honors the willingness of Prophet Ibrahim, also known as Abraham, to sacrifice his son at God’s command. Muslims typically observe this event by slaughtering sheep or other animals and sharing the meat among family members, as well as donating to the poor. Over the course of a decade, Morocco’s herds have diminished by 38% because of dry pastures, according to official statistics. As a result, meat prices have skyrocketed, and the country is importing 100,000 sheep from Australia. King Mohammed VI stated that following this tradition during these challenging circumstances would lead to significant harm, especially for those with modest incomes. His father, Hassan II, made a similar plea in 1966 when Morocco faced a prolonged drought. Agriculture Minister, Ahmed Bouari, explained that the restricted availability of water needed for industry and transportation has adversely affected agriculture, with the majority of irrigation areas subject to strict restrictions and water rationing. To address price stability across Morocco, import tax and VAT on cattle, sheep, camels, and red meat have been lifted.

Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cevxxxmdmxeo