Date Palm Sector Contributes Significantly to Agricultural GDP and Food Exports
The date palm sector contributes significantly to the agricultural Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and food exports. During the last campaign, its exports reached approximately 128,000 tons, valued at around 850 million dinars (MD), placing dates as the second-largest agricultural export after olive oil, according to the Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Fisheries, Ezzedine Ben Cheikh.
Minister's Statement
In his speech at the opening of the date harvest campaign at the Smida farm in the Zaafrane region (Douz-Sud delegation), the minister highlighted that the date palm sector also contributes to the revival and dynamization of economic activity, providing over 2 million days of work per year and income for nearly 50,000 families. Additionally, it plays a role in valuing natural resources, preserving environmental balances, and promoting Saharan tourism.
Regional Production
The minister noted that the Kébili region is a fundamental pillar of date production in Tunisia, producing around 298,000 tons of dates, accounting for 75% of national production. The region also ensures approximately 80% of the national production of the "Deglet Nour" variety, thanks to its extensive oases (over 40,000 hectares).
Exceptional Harvest
The Regional Commissioner for Agricultural Development, Oussama Rahmani, stated that this season's harvest is exceptional in terms of quantity and quality, thanks to the joint efforts of farmers and administrative services to protect the crops from pests and climate hazards. The harvest is estimated at around 298,000 tons, including 284,000 tons of "Deglet Nour".
Challenges
However, Rahmani lamented the difficulties encountered in terms of marketing, given that the number of collectors in the region remains low, slowing down the collection process and potentially having a negative impact on the production chain.
Invitation to Consumers
The official added that the start of the harvest, announced today, represents an invitation to consumers, individuals or merchants, to visit the region to stock up on dates.
Union's Statement
The President of the Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fisheries (UTAP), Moez Ben Zaghdane, stated that the date palm sector faces numerous challenges and difficulties, including water scarcity and the problem of unauthorized wells. This issue must be resolved, as these wells are used to irrigate new oases, which represent a driving force for date production.
Additional Challenges
Ben Zaghdane also mentioned a series of other challenges related primarily to climate change and the proliferation of diseases and pests. Furthermore, he highlighted the challenges of post-production, indicating that the price of exported dates was around 6 dinars per kilo during the last campaign, which is not satisfactory for the economy, exporters, or farmers. Therefore, it is necessary to find new markets to better valorize national date production and increase export volumes so that all stakeholders in the sector can benefit.
