Morocco offers $0.5 bln in aid to help farmers access animal feed

Morocco will spend 0.5 billion dollars to help farmers access animal feed at a subsidized price as the country’s grains agency tenders for 500,000 feed barley.

The aid is part of a $1 billion package announced last month in aid to farmers to help mitigate drought impact on crops and cattle.

Recurrent droughts slashed Morocco’s cereals harvest in recent years and drained the finances of small farmers leaving many struggling with high agricultural inputs.

The government has also canceled the value-added tax on agricultural inputs after prices of fertilizers and seeds surged in the international market.

Although the country’s annual inflation slowed in April to 7.8% its food component is still high at 16.3%.