Concerns Among Farmers in Jendouba Over Delays in Wheat Seed Supply
A number of farmers in the Jendouba governorate have expressed strong concerns over the delays in the supply of wheat seeds, which are jeopardizing the completion of sowing operations. They also lament the unavailability of ammonium nitrate, the shortage of phosphate, and the persistence of irrigation water cuts in certain areas. Some of them told the TAP Agency that the launch of the agricultural season, which was accompanied by promises of input availability, was not followed by a supply that covers the actual needs, which has had a negative impact on production. In this regard, they called on the Ministry of Agriculture and the various concerned parties to quickly fill the recorded deficit and save the season, especially since the region has benefited from favorable rainfall for germination, a crucial phase for the success of the campaign and the achievement of acceptable yields, particularly in a climate marked by drought. The progress rate of the sowing operation has reached around 50%, according to a source from the Regional Commissioner for Agricultural Development (CRDA), specifying that the irrigation water cuts in certain irrigated areas are due to technical failures, which are currently being addressed by the hydraulic groups with the support of the CRDA.
On the other hand, the president of the Regional Union of Agriculture and Fishing (Urap) of Jendouba, Lotfi Jammazi, indicated that the share of seeds allocated to the governorate has exceeded 80% until last Thursday, emphasizing that efforts are continuing to complete the rest in order to finish all sowing operations. The irrigation difficulties reported in several localities of Jendouba mainly concern sugar beet crops, which require regular water intake for germination.
In the face of this situation, the regional authorities have engaged in coordination with the Grain Office to fill the seed deficit and secure the smooth running of the agricultural campaign, which plans to plant over 80,000 hectares of major crops.
