Page 47 - AA 2025 Year Book Summary

Tunisia

receipts. Pulses and oilseeds remain and limited irrigation networks, ham- harvest at 1.2 million metric tons on
import-dependent, creating prospects pering scaling efforts despite policy 0.5 million hectares, with yields at 2.29
for agronomic upgrades and input incentives. Oasis systems in Kebili le- metric tons per hectare after a season
service businesses within the Agricul- verage geothermal water for 16,000 of favorable rainfall.
ture industry in Tunisia. hectares of date palms, showcasing • June 2025: A cabinet meeting
adaptive resource use. Southern ar-
Geography Analysis chaired by Prime Minister Sara Zaaf-
Agriculture in the Tunisia market ac- eas contend with high soil salinity, rani Zenzri approved accelerated
tivity illustrates a pronounced north- though research on halophytes prom- fertilizer stock-building, streamlined
ises niche expansion. National port
south divide. Northern governorates credit procedures and dedicated en-
attracted 7,680 MTND in foreign direct upgrades forecast GDP gains of 4-5%, ergy-supply guarantees for storage
investment against only 1,403 MTND promising lower logistics costs for ag- facilities ahead of the 2025-2026 crop-
in six central-southern governorates, ricultural exporters. ping year.
mirroring infrastructure disparities. Regional specialization will inten-
Irrigated area in the Medjerda basin sify as climate pressure nudges grow- • May 2025: The World Bank’s Tuni-
expanded fivefold from 1987 to 2001, ers toward drought-resistant varieties sia Economic Update projected GDP
now consuming 84% of available wa- and water-saving irrigation. Balanced growth of 1.9 % in 2025, citing im-
ter. Coastal regions dominate green- development programs aim to steer proved rainfall and agricultural resil-
house horticulture and olive oil pro- finance toward interior governorates, ience, and reiterated that upgrading
cessing thanks to export-linked ports. unlocking opportunities across the port connectivity could lift GDP by 4-5
Durum wheat productivity peaks in Agriculture in Tunisia market. % through stronger agri-food exports.
Jendouba yet trails in Kairouan, reveal- Recent Industry Developments • May 2024: Tunisia signed seven
ing efficiency gaps the Agriculture in • June 2025: The United States De- bilateral memoranda with China on
Tunisia market must address. partment of Agriculture’s Crop Explor- agriculture, green energy, and health,
Central Tunisia faces volatile rainfall er estimated Tunisia’s 2025/26 wheat signaling deeper Eastern cooperation.

Rainfall amounts in January improved

conditions of 2025 cereal crops

The 2025 winter cereal cropping average. Despite some delay in win-
season started with dry weather con- ter grain planting due to limited rain-
ditions during the planting period in fall amounts and high temperatures,
October and November 2024. How- crop growth improved in northern
ever, abundant rainfall amounts in and central regions, reflecting favour-
January 2025 improved soil moisture able weather conditions between De-
in the northern region. Favourable cember 2023 and April 2024.
weather conditions, coupled with fi- Cereal import requirements fore-
nancial support provided by the Na- cast at below-average level in 2025
tional Bank with the aim to expand Cereal import requirements in the
the planted area, are likely to benefit 2024/25 marketing year (July/June)
output prospects in 2025. If favourable are forecast at below-average 3.5 mil-
weather conditions persist through lion tonnes. Wheat imports, which
March and May 2025, yields are ex- constitute more than half of aggregate
pected at above-average levels. cereal imports, are forecast at about 2
Cereal crop production recovered million tonnes, about 2 percent above month the previous year, down from
in 2024 compared to previous year the average, driven by the abundant a peak of around 16 percent in May
drought-affected output wheat production harvested in 2024. 2023. The year-on-year rise was driv-
Cereal production in 2024 is estimat- Food inflation eased in 2024 and en by the sharp increases in bovine
ed at about 1.5 million tonnes, nearly early 2025 meat, fish and poultry prices, up 21.4,
three times higher than the drought- Food inflation eased throughout 13.4 and 10.5 percent, respectively,
affected 2023 output, yet remaining 2024, reaching about 7 percent in while oil prices fell by about 16.2 per-
about 6 percent below the five-year February 2025 compared to the same cent.
Arab Agriculture 2025 45