São Paulo – Morocco, an Arab country in North Africa, increased its food imports by 40% in the first seven months of this year when compared to the same period in 2007. This information was disclosed by the Moroccan Office of Exchange and was published by African news agency Panapress.
According to the Office, between the months of January and July the country spent 18 billion Moroccan dirhans (US$ 2.3 billion) in food purchases. In the same months last year, purchases abroad had totalled 12.87 billion dirhans, equivalent to US$ 1.6 billion.
The main products responsible for the growth were wheat, maize and butter, according to the Office, which operates under the aegis of the Ministry of Finance of Morocco. The country imported, in the period, 96,000 tonnes in wheat. This meant expenses of 570 million euros, or US$ 824 million.
On August 16, the government of the country suspended import fees on wheat to guarantee supply of the product during Ramadan, which began in September. During Ramadan, the holy month for the Muslims, those who follow the religion fast during the day and feast at night, with great banquets.
Despite eliminating import fees on wheat, the government of Morocco has taken some measures to protect local farmers who produce the commodity. The price of every quintal (100 kilograms) of wheat in the country has been increased to 27 euros. This year, Morocco produced 760,000 tonnes of wheat.
Food products represented 9.8% of Moroccan imports between January and July this year. In the same period in 2007, they represented 9.1% of the total. Despite being an importer in the sector, the Arab country is also a producer of foods. Morocco produces, in the agricultural area, products like barley, wheat, fruit, wine, vegetables and olives, and also has herds of animals.
*Translated by Mark Ament
