General State of Cereal Crops in Ben Arous Governorate Shows Marked Improvement
The overall condition of cereal crops—especially hard wheat and barley—in the Ben Arous governorate is noticeably better. The plants are now entering the tillering stage, a critical phase for future growth and yield, according to the latest technical report from the Regional Agricultural Development Commission.
Field Observations
A joint field mission carried out last week by the Large Crops Office, the Plant Protection Service, and the Agricultural Extension Unit of Mhamedia surveyed the following zones:
- Sidi Fraj
- Airport Road (Route de l’Aéroport)
- Oudhna
- Amir
The team reported that the condition of hard‑wheat and barley fields is generally good. This positive trend is expected to support the next growth stages—stem elongation, ear emergence, and flowering.
Challenges Still Present
- Weed pressure: Despite the application of phytosanitary treatments at an advanced stage, weed proliferation remains only partially controlled. Heavy January rains have saturated the soils, making cultural operations such as nitrogen fertilisation and weed‑control measures more difficult.
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Fungal diseases: Early signs of several fungal pathogens have been observed, with varying severity:
- Brown spot (tache bronzée)
- Septoria leaf blotch (tache septorienne)
- Net blotch (tache réticulée)
Infected upper‑leaf sections will require additional approved treatments. Farmers are urged to monitor their fields regularly and act quickly with authorised products to prevent further spread.
Crop Area Distribution in Ben Arous
The governorate dedicates 9 370 ha to cereals, representing the bulk of its large‑scale agriculture. The total cultivated area also includes forage crops, dry legumes, and newer industrial crops such as oilseed rapeseed. The breakdown is as follows:
| Crop Type | Area (ha) |
|---|---|
| Hard wheat | 4 166 |
| Soft wheat | 600 |
| Barley | 4 450 |
| Triticale | 156 |
| Legumes (alfalfa, forage corn, peas, chickpeas, fenugreek) | ~370 |
What Farmers Should Do
- Continue regular scouting for weeds and disease symptoms.
- Apply approved fungicides promptly on affected leaves, especially the upper canopy.
- Adjust fertilisation plans to account for the saturated soils caused by recent heavy rains.
- Coordinate with local extension services for up‑to‑date recommendations and support.
Keywords: Ben Arous governorate, cereal crops, wheat, barley, tillering stage, plant protection, weed control, fungal diseases, agricultural development, crop area distribution.
