Tunisia: Risk of shortage and soaring potato prices

The cause: a transition period between production seasons, disrupted by unfavorable weather conditions and an increased spread of late blight, a destructive fungal disease.  

Speaking on Mosaique FM this Thursday, April 10, Bayrem Hamada, a member of the central council of the Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fisheries (UTAP), sounded the alarm. According to him, the lack of a clear strategy for managing lean production periods exposes the market to significant tensions, both in terms of available quantities and prices.

To address this deficit, he recommends establishing a buffer stock of 50,000 tonnes to be built up during the peak season, particularly between May and June, when the harvest exceeds 240,000 tonnes - nearly two-thirds of the national annual production, estimated at between 340,000 and 360,000 tonnes. This mechanism would help stabilize the market and prevent price spikes that can reach 4 dinars per kilo.

He also calls on the Professional Vegetable Association to play a central role in this process, in coordination with the owners of private cold rooms. The objective: to guarantee a continuous and accessible supply, with a price capped at 2 dinars per kilo.

To date, only 17,000 tonnes are stored, a volume insufficient to cover needs during critical periods.