This Sunday morning at 9 a.m., a disheartening scene repeats itself in front of Tunisia’s bakeries: long queues stretching along the streets, with anxious citizens waiting for their turn to buy bread. The shortage of this essential staple has persisted for several weeks, leaving many households uncertain about their daily bread supply. The situation is even more alarming as bread prices have skyrocketed, making it difficult for a significant portion of the population to access this basic necessity.
The bread shortage has multiple declared reasons, some of which highlight challenges in the agricultural sector. According to the Tunisian Farmers’ Union (Synagri), this year’s cereal harvest is dramatically low, estimated at only 4 million quintals, barely representing 12.5% of the country’s total consumption, which stands at 32 million quintals. The figures from the Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fisheries (UTAP) are even more worrisome, forecasting a range of 1.8 to 2.5 quintals, a clearly insufficient quantity, even for seed needs in 2024.
Despite continued purchases by the Office of Cereals, questions arise regarding the actual consideration of the mentioned deficit. In May, the Office bought 100,000 tons of wheat, and in June, an additional 200,000 tons were acquired. Yet, this seems insufficient to meet the country’s growing national demand.
In addition to harvest and supply issues, the quotas granted to bakeries also present inconsistencies. These quotas are not adjusted according to seasonal variations in population, for example, when the number of inhabitants doubles in some coastal cities during the summer, leading to increased demand for bread in local bakeries.
The current situation is all the more worrying as bread prices have significantly increased. Varieties of bread are now sold at 1 dinar and above, far from the usual price of 0.190 dinars for a loaf. This price hike is hitting Tunisian households hard, further burdened by the country’s escalating inflation.
Faced with these growing economic difficulties, the population is increasingly concerned about the country’s future. The government is now confronted with a major challenge and is urged to take urgent measures to address this bread shortage and other food products. The daily life of Tunisians has become increasingly challenging, making it imperative to find swift and effective solutions to alleviate economic pressure and ensure adequate supply of essential products.
The bread shortage is symptomatic of the economic challenges Tunisia is facing, and the population eagerly awaits concrete actions from the authorities to improve the country’s food situation. The stakes are high, and the response from policymakers will be crucial in easing the mounting tensions within Tunisian society.
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