Tunisia can collect more than 5.5 million quintals of grains this season (UTAP)

Tunis: Tunisia can collect 5.5 million quintals of grains this season, said Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fisheries (UTAP) Vice-President in charge of Information Naceur Amdouni, adding that farmers need to maintain or increase the reference price for grain received by collection centres.In an interview with TAP's TV studio, Amdouni considered that the figures for the current season point to much more satisfactory results than those achieved last year, described as "catastrophic," as the country only collected 3.2 million quintals of grains.The grain farmers had received the quantities they had requested from the competent authorities for sowing as part of an approach adopted by the Ministry of Agriculture aimed at processing the quantities of grain used in sowing as required, the official underlined.Some areas used for grain production, notably in Kef, have been damaged as the season goes on due to climate change and rainfall deficits, explained Amdouni.Tunisia, which has adopted an approach base d on extending the areas sown as part of a grain self-sufficiency plan, could have produced up to 14 million quintals of grains if the climate conditions had allowed, he said.He pointed to the need to develop productivity, especially as the extension of grain-growing areas has been done at the expense of other crops.With regard to the reference price for receiving grains, and the grading scale, he explained that last year's prices had been around TND 130 per quintal, recalling that the Agriculture Ministry had also offered farmers a subsidy of TND 10.Amdouni voiced satisfaction at this measure, which should help farmers avoid losses, not forgetting the decision by the Agriculture Ministry to drop certain conditions imposed by the grading scale.Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse