Rabat: Moroccan King Mohammed VI has called on citizens to abstain from slaughtering sheep during this year’s Eid al-Adha, citing a significant decline in the country’s livestock due to prolonged droughts.
Eid al-Adha, set to take place in June, is a major Islamic festival commemorating the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son in obedience to God. Traditionally, Muslims mark the occasion by slaughtering sheep or goats, distributing the meat among family members and donating a portion to those in need.
Official data indicates that Morocco’s cattle and sheep populations have shrunk by 38% since the last census nine years ago, primarily due to consecutive droughts.
“Our commitment to enabling you to fulfill this religious rite under the best conditions is accompanied by the duty to consider the climatic and economic challenges facing our country, which have led to a significant decline in livestock numbers,” the King stated in a letter read on his behalf by Religious Affairs Minister Ahmed Taoufiq on state television Al Oula.
The King, who also serves as Morocco’s supreme religious leader, warned that performing the ritual sacrifice “under these difficult circumstances will cause significant harm to large segments of our people, especially those with limited income.”
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The country has experienced 53% less rainfall this year compared to the average over the past three decades, leading to a severe shortage of pasture for livestock. The subsequent decline in meat production has driven up local prices and increased reliance on imported livestock and red meat.
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In response, Morocco recently signed an agreement to import up to 100,000 sheep from Australia. Additionally, the 2025 budget includes measures to stabilize domestic prices by suspending import duties and value-added tax on cattle, sheep, camels, and red meat.
