The Press — We Had Supported, on the Eve of Eid, When Sheep Prices Reached Record Highs
We had argued, on the eve of Eid, when sheep prices reached record highs, that it is the butchers, who are everywhere, almost side by side, who set the price of a kilogram of sheep meat.
These "offices" that sell red meat, it's not hard to guess who's behind them. Those who have capital and are able to put more than a dozen sheep in an enclosure in front of their shops. If the price of the unit exceeds one million, do the math and draw conclusions.
The consumer has given up on this red meat and automatically settles for what is much more within their reach. An illustration of this situation is a kid and his father looking at sheep legs and the father explaining to his child that this is a product that was called meat and existed in the last century.
The Vice is Tightening
But it's not a matter of taking this situation lightly, which gives the impression of escaping the hands of those responsible. Apparently.
In fact, the vice is tightening on speculators. The tons of red and white meat seized in recent times demonstrate that this "organization" that has disrupted the market, maintained by these speculators, is suffering the consequences of a grain of sand that has begun to challenge everything.
These seized quantities, and unfortunately, it's a dry loss for the national economy, are the result of this rigorous policy, applied over the past few months. Overwhelmed by the harassment they are subjected to, they can no longer find buyers and, not having anywhere to store them, everything is stored anywhere.
In the worst-case scenario, if this meat is not sold or seized, it will eventually be transformed into a stable, as was recently the case in Bizerte, in a basement or anywhere, into salami or ham. There are enough colorants and condiments that distort everything, impose taste, and mask odors.
34 Dinars per Kilogram
The statement by the president of the OTC, who recently assured that "a butcher earns 34 dinars per kilogram," did not surprise us. In truth, half surprised, given that one of the main operators in the sector did not give their opinion. The Ellouhoum company, which directly manages this sector of red meat. If we consider that the Departments of Agriculture and Commerce are also interested in this apostrophe, the advanced figures then have a very particular sound.
The president of the OTC has indeed specified that "the cost price of a kilogram of meat is around 26 dinars, while it is sold at retail at a price ranging from 55 to 60 dinars."
Where is the Truth?
In fact, if the president of the OTC's calculation is correct, he did not cite sources, but we assume he has a serious one at hand, we find ourselves facing a huge question mark.
And it's not the opening of a sales point from the producer to the consumer in El Ouardia, where sheep meat will be sold at 49 dinars and beef at 32 dinars, (it's also announced that other sales points will open soon in other cities) that will solve the problem.
A Strategy to be Put in Place
Considering that this issue is of national interest, that the problems that arise will be regularly revived in a chronic manner, especially on the occasion of Eid, it would be necessary to put in place a strategy based on the full recovery of the sector.
It's not a question of haggling in a carpet shop, but rather a serious action plan, based on studies conducted by specialists directly involved and by those of civil society. The confrontation of ideas is always positive when it comes to national interest.
However, it seems to us that the opening of butcher shops should be subject to prior authorization, and their number should be subject to precise geographical location conditions. Moreover, the prohibition of slaughter on the roadsides still seems to be in effect.
What's the difference between a ruined slaughterhouse and a butcher shop door full of blood and earth residues?
These sales points, these occasional imports, and other occasional actions are positive, but they solve nothing. It's time to make this issue a file to be studied and not just exceptional circumstances from which to simply escape.
This only serves those who speculate and control the sector.
