Tunisian Red Meat Sector in Crisis: Parliamentarian Warns of Rising Prices and Lack of Market Regulation
The President of the Agriculture and Food Security Commission at the Assembly of Representatives, Hassan Jerboui, has sounded the alarm over the deteriorating situation in Tunisia's red meat sector. He has denounced the continuous surge in prices of sacrificial lambs ahead of Eid al-Adha and the absence of effective mechanisms to regulate the market.
In a statement to the media, Hassan Jerboui estimated that the rise in prices and lack of control have contributed to the exacerbation of social and food difficulties faced by many Tunisian families. He claimed that nearly a quarter of the population is now affected by forms of malnutrition.
The parliamentary official criticized the failure of concerned authorities to implement previously announced commitments to provide 30,000 sacrificial lambs and import quantities of refrigerated meat to regulate the market and limit price increases.
According to him, parties that claimed to have achieved self-sufficiency in lambs must now account for their actions, as an increasing number of citizens are considering boycotting the purchase of sacrificial lambs due to their unaffordable prices.
Hassan Jerboui also called for an urgent investigation to determine the reasons behind the failure to import lambs to reduce costs and stabilize prices. He cited the example of Algeria, where state supervision of meat import operations ensures accessible tariffs for consumers.
The President of the Agriculture Commission also denounced the practices of certain intermediaries, known locally as "gachara," operating in markets such as Boujerboua and El Hanchane. These intermediaries intercept shepherds early in the morning to buy lambs at relatively low prices before reselling them a few hours later with significant margins. This speculative behavior leads to rapid price increases, ranging from 200 to 500 dinars per head, to the detriment of citizens' purchasing power.
Structurally, Hassan Jerboui regretted the weakening of public institutions responsible for market regulation, particularly the Meat Society, whose staff has decreased from 1364 to 37 agents, significantly reducing its intervention capacity.
He also highlighted the difficulties faced by the Office of State Lands, estimating that this situation prevents it from fully playing its role in regulating the market, despite existing proposals for reform and restructuring.
The President of the Agriculture Commission finally emphasized that food sovereignty cannot be achieved through slogans, but requires the effective application of existing reforms and laws. He cited Law No. 95 of 2005 on the identification and digitization of livestock, which he considers a key lever to resolve the crises of milk and red meat in Tunisia and support rural economies.
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