The Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture reiterated the government's guarantees that the national market will be supplied with the necessary food as usual during the COVID-19 crisis.

Production and agricultural activities will continue regularly, according to the pre-established schedule, the ministry said today in a statement.

Operators in the agricultural sector at the production, packaging, processing and distribution levels maintain a normal rhythm of activity, the ministry emphasized.

The ministry acknowledged that the prices of certain food products experienced brief increases, but have returned to normal.

Agro-food products for mass consumption remain stable, the ministry said.

Rotations of crops for consumer vegetables such as tomatoes, onions and potatoes, for which production is underway, continue as usual, the ministry said.

The ministry assured citizens that the crops "will largely cover the consumption needs of these products during the months of April and May."

“The planting of the spring crops continues normally and the achievements until the end of March have reached 50% of the established schedule in general, the rest will be planted during April,” the statement said.

The ministry also forecast the production of spring and summer crops. The statement said that projected production should meet the consumption needs of these products for the June-December period.

The country also increased imports of cereals and legumes, which may meet demand for three or four months, depending on the product. Wheat, corn, barley, and legumes are particularly safe.

In light of COVID-19, the Moroccan government created an inter-ministerial committee tasked with overseeing prices and quality of supply. The committee will hold regular meetings to monitor the market supply and price trends.

The committee held a meeting on March 30 to discuss the situation of supply markets during Morocco's closing period.

During the meeting, the committee assured that the national market is "regularly supplied" with basic products.