Overall, the fruit and vegetable market in Nouakchott is well supplied, despite the ban on Moroccan exports to sub-Saharan Africa, especially tomatoes, onions and potatoes… In addition to the production rising local market and imports from Senegal, the Mauritanian market is also currently supplied by the Netherlands. No shortage has therefore been observed and prices, with a few exceptions, remain generally acceptable.
Despite the ban on Moroccan vegetable exports, the Moroccan Market in Nouakchott is always well stocked.
In Nouakchott, there were great fears of shortages and soaring vegetable prices following Moroccan authorities decided to ban exports of vegetables, including carrots, potatoes, tomatoes and onions, to sub-Saharan Africa.
A few weeks following this decision, a tour of the Nouakchott fruit and vegetable market, commonly known as the Moroccan Market, clearly shows that the market is well stocked with fruit and vegetables and prices have generally remained stable, with a few exceptions.
How can this situation be explained when Mauritania had become dependent on Moroccan fruits and especially vegetables?
Several explanations have been put forward. First, despite the ban on Moroccan vegetable exports to Mauritania, some Moroccan products are still available, but in reduced quantities according to wholesalers. The suspension of Moroccan exports mainly concerns onions, potatoes and tomatoes.
Belaid Ammy, wholesaler at the Nouakchott market, emphasizes the correct level of vegetable supply and price stability. As proof, the tomato is sold by Moroccan wholesalers at 25 ouguiyas per kilogram, or around 7 dirhams (less than 0.7 euro). Belaid Ammy dismisses any idea of scarcity.
Identical speech from Hassan, another Moroccan wholesaler, who certifies the availability of all products and the maintenance of prices at the usual level. Abdel Aziz El Guyla, Moroccan seller, testifies in the same direction as his compatriots. He refutes the shortage thesis, considering that the market is well supplied. from Morocco.
Finally, imports from Europe, particularly the Netherlands, picked up once more following the risk of shortages. This particularly concerns onions, potatoes, carrots and tomatoes which have so far been almost totally imported from Morocco.
For Mauritanian retailers and consumers, if the price of onions has remained unchanged, it is thanks to imports from Senegal and Holland which arrive in large quantities, compensating for the stoppage of Moroccan imports. However, they consider that potatoes, and to a lesser extent tomatoes, imported from Europe are relatively a bit expensive with prices between 32 and 38 ouguiyas per kilo.
Consumers hope that the situation will improve as quickly as possible, especially as we are on the eve of the month of Ramadan.
By Amadou Seck (Nouakchott, correspondence)
| le360 Africa
