Morocco earmarks $670 million to restore livestock herd

Morocco will allocate 3 billion dirhams this year and 3.2 billion next year,or a total of 670 million dollars to restore its national herd,including through financial support to farmers,agriculture minister Ahmed El Bouari said.

Under this program,the government will earmark 700 million dirhams to restructure and cancel debt owed to 50,000 livestock farmers,El Bouari said.

Small farmers represent 75% of those who will benefit from debt relief,he said.

The program also covers animal feed aid,including 7 million quintals of barley feed,he said.

Female livestock will also be registered and farmers keeping them will receive 400 dirhams in compensation,he said.

Treatment campaigns will be launched to counter drought-triggered diseases,while farmers will also receive support to improve cattle reproduction.

Morocco’s King had urged citizens to abstain from slaughtering sheep this year on Eid Al Adha.