Tomato prices in Moroccan markets have surged to 9 dirhams per kilogram due to a severe cold wave that has damaged crops and disrupted supply chains. The increase in prices is also linked to the reduction in tomato cultivation areas and the liberalization of prices, leading to speculation and hoarding by middlemen. The high prices are affecting other vegetables as well, with the situation worsened by a two-year drought and disruptions in precipitation. The World Bank has highlighted the significant gap between food prices for producers and retailers, impacting the poor severely. Government officials, experts, and civil society are calling for improved market monitoring and control to curb price hikes and ensure food availability.