Strawberry Production in Nabeul Governorate Sees Significant Decline in 2025-2026 Season
The strawberry production in Nabeul Governorate has experienced a significant decline during the 2025-2026 season, attributed to a combination of unfavorable climate conditions, reduced cultivated areas, and increased production costs.
According to Imed El Bay, President of the Regional Union of Agriculture and Fisheries in Nabeul, the expected harvest is approximately 12,000 tons, down from 16,000 tons in the previous season. This decrease is largely due to the reduction in cultivated areas, which have decreased from over 420 hectares to around 350 hectares, as well as the damage caused by floods, affecting around 50 hectares.
In an interview with Express, the official highlighted the impact of heavy rainfall and climate change on the industry, while also noting a significant increase in production costs, estimated to be between 90,000 and 120,000 dinars per hectare. This situation is putting pressure on farmers, limiting their ability to maintain or expand cultivated areas.
As a result of the decline in production, the local market is struggling to meet demand, leading to the importation of strawberries from Egypt and Algeria through both formal and informal channels. This has contributed to the recent price increase, primarily due to the imbalance between supply and demand.
In response to these challenges, some producers are shifting their focus to other delegations within the governorate, including Béni Khiar, Dar Chaabane, Béni Khalled, and Bou Argoub. This move aims to access better water resources and exploit new agricultural lands, with the goal of improving both productivity and quality.
This new dynamic may ultimately reshape the strawberry production landscape in the region, which has historically been considered the primary hub for strawberry cultivation in Tunisia.
Read more: Strawberries: Harvest Falls 50% Compared to Last Year
