Agriculture Ministry Announces Promising Outlook for 2025-2026 Cereal Season

The Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Fisheries has announced a promising outlook for the 2025-2026 cereal season, estimating that production will exceed last year's levels with a record increase of approximately 20 million quintals.

According to Mme Rabiaa Ben Salah, Director of Large Crops at the General Directorate of Agricultural Production, the harvestable areas are estimated to be around 950,000 hectares, out of a total sown area of 991,000 hectares. She explained that these results are based on favorable climate data, marked by a good distribution of rainfall and the absence of significant drought periods. This has had a positive impact on crop growth in different production zones, despite some limited damage that has not significantly affected the overall season's predictions.

The responsible official revealed that the areas dedicated to cereals have reached approximately 971,000 hectares, representing 87% of the initially planned program. The majority of these areas are concentrated in the northern governorates, with around 834,000 hectares, compared to 137,000 hectares in the Center and South. These areas are divided between hard wheat (533,000 ha), barley (400,000 ha), soft wheat (49,000 ha), and triticale (9,000 ha).

She added that the preliminary assessment of the general state of crops shows that 70% of the areas are in a "good" state, 25% in a "medium" state, and 5% below average, with high yields recorded in several regions.

She also emphasized that the irrigated areas, estimated at around 74,000 hectares, did not require intensive irrigation due to the abundance of rainfall. She noted that the reservoir filling rate reached around 68%, a level considered "relatively comfortable" that favors the stability of the next summer crops.

Finally, the responsible official indicated that a part of the sown areas suffered variable damage, mainly due to the phenomenon of excess water (flooding) in certain areas, particularly in the governorates of Bizerte and Nabeul. Local hailstorms also affected some areas in Siliana, Le Kef, and Kasserine, without forgetting climate pressures related to drought in other regions such as the governorate of Kairouan.