Tunisia is set to reap its largest grain harvest in five years, with output expected to hit 1.8 million metric tons.
Agriculture Minister Ezzedine Ben Cheikh announced the forecast on Wednesday, citing a 64% increase compared to last year’s 1.1 million tons.
He attributed the surge to significantly improved rainfall across key agricultural regions, following years of punishing droughts.
“This is a good season with about 1.8 million metric tons,” Ben Cheikh told reporters, expressing cautious optimism.
Tunisia has been grappling with a severe financial crisis, exacerbated by rising global grain prices and repeated crop failures.
The increased yield is expected to ease pressure on national grain imports and boost food security in the near term.
For the past decade, Tunisia’s grain harvests have averaged 1.5 million metric tons annually, while domestic consumption has hovered around 3.4 million tons.
The projected growth this season offers a rare moment of relief for a country struggling with economic headwinds and climatic uncertainty.
While the gains are promising, analysts warn that long-term stability still hinges on sustainable water management and resilient farming policies.