Tunisia could soon face a shortage of potatoes, with the key of prices on the stalls. In question: a period of transition between production seasons, disturbed by unfavorable climatic conditions and increased propagation of Mildiou, a destructive fungal disease.
Invited on the waves of Mosaique FM this Thursday, April 10, Bayrem Hamada, member of the Central Council of the Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fisheries (UTAP), sounded the alarm. According to him, the absence of a clear strategy to manage off -peak production periods exposes the market to high tensions, both on the quantities available and on prices.
To overcome this deficit, he advocates the establishment of a regulator stock of 50,000 tonnes to be formed during the high season, especially between May and June, when the harvest exceeds 240,000 tonnes – or almost two thirds of national annual production, estimated between 340,000 and 360,000 tonnes. This system would stabilize the market and avoid prices flights of up to 4 dinars per kilo.
He also calls the professional group of vegetables to play a central role in this process, in coordination with owners of private cold rooms. Objective: to guarantee a continuous and accessible supply, with a price capped at 2 dinars per kilo.
To date, only 17,000 tonnes would be stored, an insufficient volume to cover needs during critical periods.
