Citrus Harvest Season Begins in Nabeul Governorate
The citrus harvest season has kicked off in the Nabeul governorate, which accounts for 75% of the country's national production, with forecasts indicating a production of 270,000 tonnes, according to Bachir Aounallah, President of the Local Union of Agriculture and Fishing in Beni Khalled.
Production Outlook
He noted that initial indications are encouraging, with production levels comparable to those of the previous season, and a possible slight increase of around 10%. The harvest is deemed excellent and promising, despite a decline observed in the production of certain clementine varieties, particularly the Madalina variety.
Challenges Faced by Farmers
However, the start of the harvest of early varieties over the past two weeks has been slowed down by constraints related to strict road controls, limiting the movement of farmers and the marketing of their products in domestic markets.
Call for Exemption from Regulations
Bachir Aounallah has called for the citrus sector to be exempt from the provisions of Decree No. 47 of 2022, which amends Law No. 86 of 1994 on the distribution channels of agricultural and fishing products.
Difficulties Faced by Producers
He also highlighted the difficulties faced by producers due to the scarcity of water resources and the burden of taxes on agricultural inputs, which can reach up to 22%, leading to increased production costs and growing debt among farmers.
Need to Revitalize Agricultural Cooperatives
He emphasized the need to revive agricultural service cooperatives, which are essential for supporting producers and better managing production.
