The president of the Tunisian Farmers’ Union, Midani Dhaoui, said on Monday, January 12, 2026, in a statement to Tunisie Numérique, that the current olive harvesting season has so far progressed by only 40 to 45 percent. He attributed this slow pace to widespread hesitation among farmers caused by a lack of clarity and uncertainty surrounding official decisions affecting the sector.
Dhaoui explained that government measures, particularly those related to the reference price of olive oil at olive presses, have not been implemented on the ground. A price of 10 dinars per liter was initially announced, then raised to 10.200 dinars in a second phase, a rate that was later reaffirmed. However, these decisions were never enforced, and prices at presses continue to range between 8.5 and 9 dinars per liter, which he described as a major problem for producers.
According to the union leader, this uncertainty is the main reason behind delays in the harvest, a situation that could negatively affect the quality of olive oil, the size of next year’s crop, and even the health of olive trees. He said these risks prompted farmers to issue an urgent appeal to the Presidency of the Republic, noting that several recommendations aimed at supporting producers and regulating the sector have remained unimplemented.
Dhaoui also pointed to tensions that have emerged in some cases between producers and olive press owners due to the non-application of official decisions, stressing that hesitation and lack of clear enforcement are always harmful to the success of the harvesting season and to national production.
More broadly, he underlined that Tunisian agriculture faces structural problems across several sectors, with each season marked by difficulties stemming from insufficient preparation and the absence of forward-looking strategies to make full use of the country’s agricultural potential. He added that most solutions adopted so far have been temporary rather than part of a comprehensive, long-term reform approach.
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