Despite a Significant Apricot Harvest This Season, Prices Remain High in Tunisian Markets
According to Mouldi Ramadhani, the president of the Regional Union of Agriculture and Fishing in Kairouan, the prices of apricots on Tunisian markets remain high despite a substantial harvest this season.
In an interview with Diwan FM, Ramadhani stated that the Kairouan governorate has over 3,000 hectares dedicated to apricot cultivation, accounting for nearly 45% of the country's production. The regional production is estimated to be around 18,000 tons of various varieties, a level similar to that of the previous season. This stability is due to the impact of climate conditions on yields, despite the expansion of cultivated areas.
At the national level, the harvest is expected to reach approximately 40,000 tons, with a portion destined for export and the rest for the local market.
Regarding prices, Ramadhani emphasized that apricot producers sell their produce between 1 and 1.5 dinars per kilogram, while the price for consumers reaches around 4 dinars, or more in some markets. He estimated that the farmer remains the "weakest link" in the distribution chain, implicitly calling for better regulation of commercialization circuits to reduce the gap between production and consumption prices.
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