Sidi Bouzid's Weekly Markets Buzz with Activity Ahead of Eid al-Adha
Just a few days away from the Eid al-Adha celebrations, the weekly markets in Sidi Bouzid's governorate are bustling with activity. The areas dedicated to the sale of sheep for the Eid al-Adha festival have seen a significant surge in prices, with a notable increase of around 500 dinars compared to last year. This has raised concerns and confusion among both buyers and breeders.
Prices Drop Slightly, but Remain High
Mustapha Ammar, a sheep merchant, told TAP that despite the price hike, prices have dropped by around 100 dinars over the past two days due to the erosion of purchasing power and a slowdown in sales, despite the payment of salaries and an abundance of supply. Currently, prices range from 1,400 to 1,500 dinars for a medium-sized sheep, around 1,300 dinars for a ewe, and can exceed 2,000 dinars for the largest animals. Ammar predicts a continued decline in prices in the coming days, as breeders are forced to sell after the end of the fattening period to avoid additional feeding costs.
The Breeder: Between the Cost of Inputs and Insufficient Prices
Abdallah Ibrahim, a breeder, sounded the alarm: despite the price increase, the revenue barely covers the cost of production. The prices of animal feed have skyrocketed by up to 30%, with recurring difficulties in accessing supplies. For example, 85 kg of corn now costs 60 dinars, while wheat and barley are being diverted to parallel circuits. Coarse fodder has also exploded, reaching 25 dinars per bale of hay directly from the farm, in a context of declining natural pasture due to climate-related fluctuations.
Youssef, a breeder from Souk Jedid, called for urgent intervention from agricultural extension services to provide vaccines and medications, particularly during episodes of foot-and-mouth disease that have decimated part of the herd. He also warned of the dangers of anarchic slaughter of breeding females and lambs, a practice that erodes the renewal of the flock and threatens the long-term sustainability of the sector.
The Sheep Industry Under Pressure: A Decline Accelerating
Ali Brahmi, president of the Sidi Bouzid Regional Union of Agriculture and Fisheries, summarized the situation by highlighting a combination of unfavorable factors: a surge in the prices of animal feed, an increase in transportation and veterinary costs, and a decline in natural pastures due to climate change. These factors directly impact the final price of the sheep, forcing breeders to sell at high prices to maintain a minimal margin.
Brahmi firmly emphasized the need to preserve breeding females, whose slaughter poses a real threat to the sustainability of the flock at the regional and national levels, and risks fueling a new upward spiral in prices in the future.
Alarming Figures
The number of sheep destined for Eid al-Adha in Sidi Bouzid reveals a disturbing trend:
- 2018: 347,000 heads
- 2020: 280,000 heads
- 2022: 278,000 heads
- 2023: 145,000 heads
- 2024: 110,000 heads
Over the past decade, the sheep flock destined for Eid al-Adha has declined by over 68% in the governorate. The region, however, has more than 342,000 breeding ewes, around 27,000 cows, and 50,000 productive goats, contributing 9.6% of national production according to 2018 statistics.
Persistent Silence from Agricultural Authorities
For the third consecutive year, the relevant agricultural structures – the Sidi Bouzid Regional Development Agricultural Commission, the Animal Production Directorate, and the Livestock and Pastures Office – have refused to provide any figures or information on the number of available sheep, measures taken, planned campaigns for Eid al-Adha, or the health status of the flock.
