Agricultural Sector Reform Must Begin with Collective Reflection
During a hearing before the Agriculture Commission of the Assembly of Representatives of the People (ARP), Fathi Ben Khalifa, economic advisor to the Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fisheries (UTAP), emphasized that agricultural sector reform must begin with collective reflection. According to him, it is urgent to gather all stakeholders around a dialogue table, under the auspices of the highest state authority, to formulate a comprehensive reform vision.
In a statement to the radio, the economic advisor to UTAP lamented the fact that "since independence to this day, no clear strategic plan has been developed to define the policies of the value chains of the different agricultural production sectors."
Fathi Ben Khalifa also warned that "the importation of products that could be produced locally in Tunisia is severely harming the Tunisian consumer and the national economy, in addition to weighing on the value of the dinar against foreign currencies."
Addressing the shortage of red meats and sacrificial animals recorded this season, Ben Khalifa explained that this situation stems from a structural crisis that has been affecting the sector since 2015-2016. This decline was initiated by the deterioration of the dairy sector and the surge in the costs of animal feed, factors that have forced many farmers to sell or abandon their livestock.
This crisis has heavily impacted the development model of several regions in the central part of the country, historically known for their high density of sheep herds. This is particularly the case in the governorate of Sidi Bouzid, which was once one of the main suppliers of the market with sheep for Eid al-Adha, before a significant number of breeders abandoned this activity to convert to the olive oil sector.
In light of this observation, Fethi Ben Khalifa called for relying on Tunisian research laboratories to improve local animal breeds and avoid importing cows and sheep. He also recalled that UTAP had launched, as early as May 2025, a roadmap to establish a national action program aimed at valorizing the agricultural sector and animal production. A project that, he regretted, has still not received a favorable response from the authorities.
