The Plight of Tunisian Olive Oil Producers: A Threat to the Sector's Sustainability
International expert in agricultural and rural development, Noureddine Nasr, has warned that the downward pressure on Tunisian olive oil prices is detrimental to local producers and threatens the long-term viability of the olive oil sector.
Participating in the 10th International Colloquium on Integrated Natural Resource Management and Sustainable Agriculture "GIRNAD 2025" held in Hammamet from November 5 to 7, 2025, Nasr highlighted the precarious situation of Tunisian olive farmers facing continuous price pressure. "Despite Tunisia producing some of the world's best olive oil, it is sold at prices lower than those in Italy, Greece, Turkey, Spain, or France," he lamented.
To illustrate the difficulties faced by small-scale olive farmers, Nasr referred to a study he co-authored with university researchers Mohamed Arbi Abdeladhim and Wassim Riahi on the production costs of olive oil in the Zaghouan governorate. The survey was conducted among 11 farms and covered two agricultural campaigns: the 2023-2024 dry campaign, which followed several years of consecutive drought, resulting in losses and debt for farmers, and the 2024-2025 campaign, which was relatively good in terms of precipitation after a long period of drought. The study showed that some farmers, particularly those operating in rain-fed mode, made no profit on average over the two campaigns.
Nasr emphasized that "every year, two to three months before the start of the olive harvest, a massive campaign is launched on social media and in the media to lower the price of Tunisian olive oil. These campaigns harm small farmers who wait for years to get a good harvest."
Recalling that 85% of olive groves in Tunisia are cultivated in rain-fed mode and that most of these rain-fed farms, as well as some irrigated olive farms, are small-scale and family-based, Nasr considered that the compression of Tunisian olive oil prices would have a negative impact on the well-being of farmers and their families, the national economy, and the attractiveness of this sector for young people.
The Regulatory Role of the State
To regulate prices, Nasr proposed two scenarios. The first scenario involves state intervention, where the government could sell olive oil produced by the Office of State Lands to Tunisian consumers at a subsidized price, while fixing export prices in line with global market prices and ensuring a profit margin for exporters. This approach would ensure greater transparency and balance between the interests of producers and exporters, with the state playing an arbitral role.
The second scenario involves drawing inspiration from international models of agricultural product marketing. "An interesting example is Saudi Arabia, where the Saudi Center for Palms and Dates buys dates from small Saudi producers at preferential prices and then takes care of their marketing. This model could inspire Tunisia, particularly the National Olive Oil Office (ONH) for olive oil and the interprofessional grouping of dates."
In conclusion, Nasr stressed the urgency of rethinking agricultural governance to protect small producers, preserve the olive oil sector, and ensure its sustainability in the face of economic and climate challenges.
