Tunisia, an agricultural country par excellence, faces major challenges in the agricultural sector. Indeed, the prolonged drought experienced by the country in 2023 had a devastating impact on harvests, leading to a significant drop in cereal production. And this year, farmers face a new set of challenges linked to recent late rains.
Tunisia’s planting season is almost coming to an end, but many farmers have had to sow their cereal crops later than usual due to delayed rains. This situation worries professionals, who fear a further drop in agricultural production in the future.
To try to anticipate the 2024 season, the Cereals Office announced a 24% increase in plantings and promised to support farmers. However, on the ground, the reality is very different. Farmers face many problems, both climatically and economically.
In some regions of Tunisia, the fields are completely dry, while others are in full plowing. Farmers have to juggle rare and sporadic rains, which only arrived in late November this year. This delay disrupted the usual sowing schedule, forcing farmers to sow under emergency conditions in order to take advantage of the few days of clearing.
This difficult climatic situation has a considerable impact on the agricultural production chain and makes the profession of farmer less and less profitable, in particular for small farmers. The high cost of agricultural equipment and inputs, combined with low yields caused by drought, jeopardize the economic viability of farms.
In addition, farmers also face problems with the supply of fertilizer, which is not always available in sufficient quantities. They are therefore calling for better control of the quality and prices of agricultural inputs, so as not to be exposed to poor quality products on the market.
Faced with these challenges, it is essential for Tunisia to implement a visionary agricultural policy adapted to climate change. Steps must be taken to support farmers, by providing them with adequate tools and resources, as well as encouraging research and innovation in agriculture.
It will also be necessary to closely monitor the rainfall in March and the rise in temperatures, which will have a decisive impact on crop yields for the year 2024.
In conclusion, Tunisia faces many challenges in the agricultural sector, caused largely by drought and climatic variations.. It is essential to take concrete measures to support farmers, strengthen the country’s food security and ensure the sustainability of Tunisian agriculture.