Tunisian Agricultural Sectors Reveal Persistent Structural Weaknesses

The Tunisian agricultural sectors are plagued by persistent structural weaknesses, marked by market instability, production limitations, and insufficient regulatory mechanisms. From tomatoes, a historic pillar of the national agro-food industry, to white meats, the imbalances multiply, raising questions about the system's ability to ensure durable price and supply stability.

Experts and Sector Officials Concur: Structural Imbalances Persist

Several experts and sector officials agree that the Tunisian agricultural sectors remain marked by structural imbalances, exacerbated by difficulties in regulation and planning.

Houssem Bounani, an economic expert, notes that Tunisia has a long-standing relationship with tomatoes and their processing. "The first processing unit dates back to 1903 in the Sahel region," he emphasizes. Today, the country is among the world's largest consumers of tomato concentrate, with an estimated annual consumption of nearly 100,000 tons.

For the expert, this sector is directly linked to national food security. However, it remains fragile: some years experience significant production declines or even supply disruptions. He stresses a central point: data reliability. "A major concern lies in the quality of statistics communicated to public authorities," he explains, estimating that inaccurate figures distort market readings and complicate decision-making.

The tomato market is described as unstable and highly fluctuating, sometimes referred to as a "degrading market," marked by structural imbalances and insufficient regulation. According to him, the problem is also organizational: the agricultural production system and the industrial transformation system remain insufficiently integrated, despite strong interdependence between farmers, processors, and financial actors.

The sector relies on a significant base: approximately 20,000 farmers are involved, including nearly 17,000 small-scale farmers. However, this fragmentation generates difficulties in organization and access to financing. The expert is categorical: "The farmer remains the most vulnerable link in the value chain." To this are added the effects of climate change, which exacerbate uncertainties about production, as well as marked seasonal variations between June and November, directly impacting yields.

Imbalances also appear at the distribution level, with price increases and high volatility reflecting tensions between supply and demand. For Houssem Bounani, these elements reveal the limitations of the current system.

Dysfunctions in the White Meat Sector

Former Secretary of State for Internal Trade, Samir Bechouel, alerts to the dysfunctions in the white meat sector, particularly after the price hike observed on the markets. He believes a deep reorganization of the sector is necessary and goes so far as to declare: "The production system must be removed from the hands of sector operators and placed under the tutelage of the Ministry of Agriculture," accusing some actors of prioritizing their own interests.

According to him, the current situation is the result of several factors, including diseases affecting the poultry herd, leading to a decline in production and increased price pressure. This contraction of supply has favored difficult-to-control inflation, especially since authorities struggle to enforce reference prices in the face of increasing production costs.

Samir Bechouel also points to the absence of structured planning in the sector. He recalls that previously, planning was the responsibility of the administration, whereas it is now largely left to operators, which would have contributed to the loss of control over market balances.

For him, a rule must be imposed: aligning prices with real production costs. "Any artificial fixation of prices generates perturbations," he estimates, calling for better coordination between actors to define balanced prices, reconciling economic viability and consumer protection.

Finally, he advocates for complementary measures: occasional recourse to imports to alleviate market tensions, particularly to meet the needs of the tourism sector, as well as strengthening storage capacities. The development of the cold chain appears essential to stabilize supply and reduce price volatility, particularly for products like chicken and escalope.