The Sheep of the Oriental Conquer the Supermarkets

	Lamb fattening trials in Oriental, lessening the burden on rangelands. Operation supported by USAID’s Integrated Agriculture and Agribusiness program

The cacophony of bleating sheep fills the air in Fez’s open-air market one sunny afternoon before the holy Muslim feast day, Aid El Kebir.  Thousands jostle and maneuver in an ordered frenzy to purchase a young ram, required for the traditional sacrifice and feast.  This scene is repeated in markets throughout the country by millions of faithful.  But something is different in this Fassi market.  Members of from Ain Beni Mathar in Eastern Morocco (called Oriental) comment to each other about their wonderful fortune to be selling in this market.  This is the first time that these farmers have had the opportunity to sell directly in this large urban market without going through intermediaries. 

The Al Jamaal Cooperative is a beneficiary of USAID’s Integrated Agriculture and Agribusiness (IAA) project.  In the past, farmers have been forced to sell their animals through middlemen at the local markets for much lower prices and profits.  

USAID helped two cooperatives establish contracts allowing them to sell their sheep directly to customers through the large weekly markets in Fez and Mohammedia.  Approximately 1100 families purchased their sheep from these cooperative members.  The clients were very satisfied with the new vendors, the quality of the meat, and this new variety of sheep called Beni Guil, raised exclusively in the Eastern and Southeastern Morocco.

Besides facilitating direct access to customers, the IAA technicians taught the sheep growers the latest techniques for preparing livestock for sale and the advantages of selling by weight rather than per animal, as had been tradition.  The cooperative members tested their training, and the results surpassed their expectations.  The farmers dealt directly with paying customers, sold their properly prepared animals by the kilogram, and received higher profits.