Private Agricultural Investments Show Contrasting Dynamics in 2025
According to data recently released by the National Observatory of Agriculture (ONAGRI), the number of private agricultural projects slipped slightly in 2025, but their total value soared, driven by a marked improvement in access to bank financing and a surge in foreign investment.
The Agency for the Promotion of Agricultural Investments (APIA) approved, over the entire year, 6,513 investment operations amounting to 547.991 million dinars (MD). This represents a significant 15 % increase in invested value compared with 2024, despite a 7 % drop in the number of operations.
Sources of financing
| Financing source | 2025 amount (MD) | % change vs. 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Bank loans to promoters | 155.7 | +40 % |
| Self‑financing | 259.3 | +16 % |
| Grants | 132.9 | ‑7 % |
| Land‑based loans (covering 452 ha) | 7.4 | – |
The rise in total value is mainly explained by the shift in financing sources. While bank loans jumped 40 % and self‑financing grew 16 %, grant funding fell slightly.
Sectoral distribution
- Traditional agriculture remains the dominant sector, attracting 275.342 MD (53 % of total investments).
- Aquaculture experienced a spectacular boom: investments more than tripled, reaching 88 MD (up from 25.956 MD in 2024).
Foreign capital attractiveness
- Approved Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) nearly tripled, climbing from 7.997 MD in 2024 to 20.946 MD by the end of 2025.
Geographic breakdown
| Region (group of governorates) | Invested amount (MD) | Share of total |
|---|---|---|
| Region 3 (Kairouan, Sousse, Monastir, Mahdia, Kasserine, Siliana) | 177.8 | 32 % |
| Region 4 | — | 24 % |
| Region 2 | — | +48 % growth (largest increase) |
Employment and demographic profile
- The approved projects are expected to generate 3,015 direct jobs.
- Young promoters account for 10 % of total investments (51 MD).
- Women promoters represent 3.6 %, amounting to 18.605 MD.
- 35 operations were approved for community enterprises, valued at 8.9 MD.
These figures illustrate a year of contrasting trends: fewer projects overall, but a pronounced shift toward higher‑value, bank‑financed, and foreign‑backed investments, especially in fast‑growing sectors such as aquaculture.
