As Ramadan officially begins on March 2, 2025, many families in Morocco are worried about the rising food prices that frequently occur during this holy month. Despite government assurances that the situation is under control, these concerns have led to the launch of national hotline 5757, aimed at addressing consumer complaints and maintaining market stability throughout Ramadan.

Hotline 5757 serves as a direct channel for citizens to report issues related to market supply, pricing, product quality, and consumer safety. It also allows the public to report fraudulent practices such as scams, unfair competition, monopolies, or speculation that require intervention by the authorities. The hotline is accessible via landline or mobile phone across all national telecommunications networks and operates daily during Ramadan from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Call charges follow standard landline rates based on the user’s subscription plan, with no additional fees.

This initiative is part of a broader strategy announced after the Interministerial Commission for Supply and Price Monitoring met on February 4. The government is working to ensure that essential goods such as dates, dried fruits, honey, almonds, and semolina—key ingredients in traditional Iftar meals—are sufficiently available while keeping prices stable and protecting consumers from exploitation. “We are committed to ensuring that products remain accessible at prices that match people’s purchasing power while maintaining health standards,” emphasized Nadia Fettah, Morocco’s Minister of Economy and Finance.

Balancing Tradition and Economic Pressures

Ramadan in Morocco is not just a time of worship but also a rich culinary celebration. Dishes such as harira—a tomato and bean-based soup—and chebakia, a honey-coated pastry, symbolize the spirit of togetherness at the Iftar table. However, despite the abundance of supplies in traditional markets and supermarkets, many households remain anxious about price hikes that often accompany this sacred month. Calls for stricter oversight to prevent price speculation are growing louder.

One of the most talked-about controversies this year is the price of sardines. Abdelilah El Jabouni, a young vendor from Le Port de Marrakech, shocked the public by selling sardines for just 5 MAD per kilogram in Marrakech—far below the 15-20 MAD per kilogram prices in coastal cities like Casablanca and Rabat. This stark price difference has sparked debate over the role of middlemen in Morocco’s fish supply chain. Experts note that the price of sardines can increase up to sevenfold from the port to the consumer due to the multiple intermediaries involved. Other factors, such as climate change disrupting fish distribution patterns and overfishing reducing stock levels, have worsened the situation. At the beginning of 2025, a biological rest period of 1.5 to 2 months was implemented in the southern waters to help replenish fish stocks, though the results have yet to be fully realized.

A Month of Challenges and Opportunities

For Moroccans, Ramadan is a time to honor culinary traditions amid economic pressures. Seasonal vendors, such as traditional pastry sellers, welcome the surge in demand, which peaks in the months of Sha’ban and Ramadan. “Ramadan is our golden season,” said Fatima Zahra, a chebakia vendor at a market in Fez. “But this year, the price of flour and oil has risen, so we have to be smart about maintaining profits without overburdening customers.” Dates, a staple of Iftar, remain available in various local and imported varieties at relatively affordable prices.

The sardine price controversy has even gone viral on platform X, where photos of Abdelilah’s low-cost fish attracted thousands of comments. Citizens are urging the government to delve deeper into the supply chain practices through these digital discussions. The government, in turn, has pledged to intensify market monitoring to combat fraud, monopolies, and speculation. “Hotline 5757 is a first step toward responding to complaints more quickly than last year when similar concerns flooded social media without concrete solutions,” a market official stated.

Looking ahead, experts suggest that digitalizing supply chains and educating consumers will help curb price speculation. With initiatives like Hotline 5757, the government hopes that Ramadan will not only remain a time of celebration and togetherness but also a period where citizens’ purchasing power is safeguarded amidst economic challenges. For further information on how to get involved or learn more about the report's findings, contact Tradeasia International for insights and support.