The regional disaster prevention commission in Siliana met this Wednesday to take stock of recent fires and establish an action plan against the Cochet which threatens the prickly pears.
Between the end of May and July 2025, forest services have identified 42 fires. The lights touched 57 hectares of cereal crops and 1,019 hectares of forest. In Bargou, Sidi Zaid’s fire alone destroyed 580 hectares.
In parallel, 56 households in Cochenille were spotted on more than 58,000 m². The teams treated about half of it. The most affected areas remain Bargou, Kesra and Siliana Sud.
The regional action plan provides for reinforced monitoring, awareness campaigns and rapid interventions. Farmers must prune and ventilate plantations. The state also asks the processing factories to suspend the purchase of figs, even healthy, to limit propagation.
