Wholesale Fruit & Vegetable Market in Bir El Kassaa Faces Decline, Says Regional Chamber President
Hussein Aïssaoui, president of the Regional Chamber of Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable Traders of Ben Arous, warned that the situation at the Bir El Kassaa wholesale market is deteriorating. He described commercial activity as “average” since the start of Ramadan – a stark contrast with previous years.
Key Points from the Interview with Tunis Afrique Presse
| Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Drop in activity | A “medium” level of trade since Ramadan, far below the volumes recorded in past years. |
| Root cause | Farmers are disengaging from the market, preferring alternative distribution channels that bypass the wholesale hub. |
| Supply impact | Irregular deliveries and heightened tension on certain products. |
| Regulatory gap | No clear official decree defining which items are subject to price‑control measures, creating confusion and uncertainty. |
| Farmers’ strategy | Many choose to sell outside the market’s premises to avoid extra fees and price‑control constraints. |
| Resulting market effect | An oversupply of items such as citrus fruits appears in parallel circuits, while they are scarce inside the wholesale market. |
| Infrastructure problems | • 40 cold‑storage chambers have been closed since 2003 due to mismanagement. • A waste‑treatment plant has never been commissioned, highlighting structural failures that hinder the site’s operation. |
| Overlap of responsibilities | Conflicts exist between municipal authorities and the managing entities – the Tunisian Wholesale Market Company and a private firm. • Additional levies of 3 % on buyers and 3 % on sellers have been imposed, further inflating costs. |
| Call for action | A “executive revolution” is needed: enforce existing regulations before launching new reforms. • Conduct a thorough diagnostic study of the market’s internal management to pinpoint dysfunctions and propose sustainable solutions. |
| Import relief | Importing peppers from Egypt and Algeria has helped prevent a sharp price surge, especially out‑of‑season. Similar import strategies have eased price pressures on tomatoes, strawberries, and watermelons. |
What the President Wants
- Immediate enforcement of current laws governing price controls and market operations.
- Comprehensive audit of the market’s internal management to identify inefficiencies.
- Clarification of the legal framework that lists products subject to price regulation.
- Resolution of jurisdictional overlaps between municipalities and the two managing companies.
- Elimination of redundant fees that increase transaction costs for both buyers and sellers.
Why It Matters
The decline in activity at Bir El Kassaa threatens the supply chain for fresh produce across the Ben Arous region and beyond. Without decisive action, farmers may continue to bypass the market, leading to:
- Reduced price stability for consumers.
- Increased reliance on imports, which can strain national trade balances.
- Loss of market relevance, potentially jeopardizing jobs linked to the wholesale sector.
Outlook
A focused “executive revolution”—centered on applying existing regulations, improving infrastructure, and streamlining governance—could restore confidence among producers, traders, and consumers. Until then, the market will likely remain vulnerable to supply gaps and price volatility, especially for high‑demand items such as peppers, tomatoes, strawberries, and watermelons.
Source: Interview with Hussein Aïssaoui, provided to the Tunis Afrique Presse.
