Not Ebay, but E-baa??

When The View From Fes went looking for a sheep for Aid Al Adha we discovered it could all be done from the laptop. No more treking off to Meknes (where the sheep are cheaper than Fes) - or heading out into the countryside looking for a bleating bargain. It turns out that a farm in Laghdira commune (El Jadida province) launched an online sheep market, revolutionising the traditional way of selling sheep. ‘E-Souk' or ‘E-Sheep' has recently been the center of attention of national media.

As an example, just click on the link to have a close inspection of what we thought was quite a bargain! Twenty month old sardi, 75kg... and only 2900 MAD

Locals claim that the launching of the website has changed the tradition in the region. People will no longer go to souks like Tlat Sidi Bennour, Khmis Zmamra, Chtouka or Jmaat Shim. The online souk, open 24h/24, has facilitated the task for customers. They are now able to choose the sheep at a simple click: (try it yourself!) Khairat Farms

The website provides the possibility of choosing at a click the race, age, weight and price of the sheep, according to customers' purchase power with sheep prices ranging from MAD 500 to MAD 10,000. Located in Douar Ait Ham, the farm takes charge of delivering sheep to El Jadida, Casablanca and Rabat, respecting the deadlines and inn case of delay, the client is notified via e-mail or phone calls.

“The aim of anaam.net is to open an international market to Khairat
Farms' products so as to establish direct relations between the producer and the consumer, removing all intermediaries,” reads a statement on the website.

The farm answers the demand of customers on different occasions, including Aid Al Adha, marriages and special events.

Electronic means have recently contributed to the buying and selling process at the period of Aid Al Adha. Many wives were reported to have chosen sheep through Multimedia Messaging System (MMS).

Tags: Morocco, Fès, Maghreb, news