Tunisian Farmers' Union President Criticizes Government's Olive Oil Pricing Decision
The President of the Tunisian Farmers' Union (Synagri), Midani Dhaoui, has described the decision by the Ministries of Agriculture and Trade to set a mobile reference price for olive oil at 10 dinars per kilo (at the level of oil mills) as an "improvised, precarious, and thoughtless" measure that does not address the demands of producers.
During his intervention on Thursday, December 25, 2025, Midani Dhaoui explained that this decision has provoked a genuine conflict between farmers and oil mill owners, leading to a controversy where some oil mills are now refusing to receive the olive harvest.
A Price Lower than the Cost of Production
According to the union president, the major problem lies in the partial nature of this decision, which does not take into account all the actors in the sector. The fact is that the set price does not cover the expenses incurred.
Mr. Dhaoui emphasized that the decision is totally out of touch with the current reality. Most of the olive production is now from irrigated crops, which significantly increases costs. He finds it "unacceptable" that the farmer is the only one bearing the consequences of these arbitrary decisions.
The president of the union lamented the low valuation of Tunisian olive oil on the global market. "Our oil is one of the best in the world, but it is paradoxically one of the cheapest." He attributed this situation to seasonal policies and improvised measures. He also sounded the alarm about the future of Tunisian olive groves, which comprise around 120 million trees, questioning the fate of this national wealth in the absence of proactive plans to ensure its sustainability.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Midani Dhaoui affirmed that farmers have become the victims of unstudied decisions. He calls for guaranteeing producers the right to a dignified life by setting real prices that cover production costs. According to him, this is the only condition to ensure the continuity of the sector, boost the national economy, and put an end to the current tensions with oil mill owners.
