2010.07.26Focus on the agricultural season 2009-2010

Despite the decrease seen in cereal production - including the quantity harvested on July 19 amounted to 4.8 million quintals, against 8.7 million bushels last year - the agricultural season 2009-2010 is considered relatively good , because of the good behavior of some courses, such as fruits and vegetables and organic crops and growing business.

The harvest of summer fruits should be achieved during the current season, about 607,000 tons, an amount similar to that recorded during the past season. It is also expected to see supply of fruit to diversify, given the increase in apple production (126,000 tonnes) and pears (65,000 tons) over the ripening of other fruits such as grapes, peaches, prickly pears and melons.
The sector's exports have reached to 15 July, about 24,000 tons, generating revenues of 22 million dinars (million TND).
Tunisia is managed to produce 308,000 tons of citrus, up 4%, and exported about 26,000 tons.
Date production reached during the 2008-2009 season around 162,000 tonnes, up 11% compared to the season (2007-2008), of which 110,000 tons of the famous brand "Deglet Nour. On July 14, nearly 65,000 tonnes of fruit were exported for a value of 223 million TND.
Regarding the vegetable industry, the market supply of potatoes season continues at a normal pace, with production ranging between 170,000 and 190,000 tons. It is expected that the total production of fresh tomatoes over 1 million tons.
Olive oil is resistant to climatic
On the production of olive oil, it was estimated, during the past season, about 150,000 tonnes, 80,000 tonnes were exported for a value of 325 million TND. However, the olive groves of the south is considered critical, 1,235,000 olive feet having been affected by the rainfall deficit in the governorates of Medenine Tataouine and Gabes. Hence the need for more irrigation, only solution to overcome the lack of rain. To this end, an amount of 1.235 million dinars has been mobilized, as a bonus, up to 1 dinar for every foot of irrigated olive.
On another level, the expansion of land devoted to organic farming reached in 2009, approximately 330,000 hectares, producing 230,000 tons. It is expected to finalize before the end of 2010, a study to make the island of Kerkennah a farming area, in addition to the review of technical conversion of forests in organic fashion in order to help farmers to produce according to standards.

Control of the consumption of red meat
Regarding the livestock sector, it will provide about 121,000 tons of red meat (117,000 tons in 2009), including 54,000 tons of beef, 50,000 tonnes of sheep meat and 9,000 tons of meat goat.
The forecast to control consumption of red meat in 2010, also introducing a number of mechanisms to balance the market. These include the importation of quantities of calves for fattening.
On the other hand, the production of poultry meat should reach 100,000 tonnes by the end of the year, against 91,000 tons in 2009, an increase of 8.4%.
From the second half of 2010, the objective is to ensure increased production levels to meet the growing demand for white meat during this period that coincides with the tourist season and the month of Ramadan, in addition to the new school year .
On July 18, the production of fishery products reached 54,000 tons, an increase of 8% over the same period the previous year. During the first half of 2010, 10,000 tons, worth 95.5 million TND, were exported.

Increased milk production
Regarding the milk production has reached over 546 million liters, against 534 million during the same period last year, an increase of 2.3%. Forecasts are based on a production of 1.054 million liters to the end of the year, against 1,030 million liters in 2009. The amounts collected have already reached 284 million liters, against 267 million liters in 2009, an increase of 6.5%.
The buffer stock of sterilized milk has reached to 18 July, 57 million liters.
The price received by producers increased from 0.55 TND during the month of June 2009, at 0.58 TND during the same period of 2010.
The production of eggs for consumption must be achieved, for its part, at the end of 2010, 1.605 billion, an increase of 2.2% over the previous year. A stock of 82 million eggs have also been made in anticipation of Ramadan.

All these data were provided by Dr. Abdessalem Mansour, Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries at the briefing held Thursday, 22 July in Tunis.

Source: kapitalis.com

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