Tunisia: Small Cabinet meeting focuses on preparations for 2025-2026 agricultural season
Tunis - A small Cabinet meeting was held on Tuesday at the Government Palace in Kasbah, chaired by Prime Minister Sara Zaafrani Zenzri, to review preparations for the 2025-2026 agricultural season and ensure optimal conditions for its successful launch.
It was decided in this regard to accelerate fertiliser stockpiling to fully cover the needs of the 2025-2026 season while maintaining current chemical fertiliser prices. This falls within the state's social role to help farmers acquire supplies at reasonable prices and control production costs.
This is besides streamlining financing procedures for all the 2025-2026 agricultural season-related activities, while ensuring adequate energy supply for chemical fertiliser storage centres, their safety, and equitable distribution in the domestic market.
The Cabinet also decided, according to a Prime Ministry statement to organise a training session in June 2025 by the Sectoral Centre for Transport and Logistics Training in Borj Cedria (under the Ministry of Employment and Vocational Training) for hazardous materials truck drivers.
This training is mandatory under Law No. 37 of 1997 (June 2, 1997) concerning hazardous material road transport, which prohibits ammonia transport without proper certification.
It was also decided to immediately implement the 'Engrais' digital platform to modernise agricultural sector monitoring, enabling end-to-end tracking of fertiliser distribution from producer to final consumer, while ensuring all stakeholders have access.
During this meeting, the latest agricultural indicators and the results of the previous season were discussed, evaluated and analysed.
The preparations for the 2025–26 season were also presented, focusing on the challenges facing the agricultural sector and how to invest in it. The most important data related to the progress of preparations for this season at all levels was also presented.
In this context, plans for supplying chemical fertilisers were presented. After assessing the local market supply during the 2024–25 agricultural season and defining the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries' fertiliser needs for the 2025–26 season, the meeting focused on the technical and logistical preparations underway to supply the market during this season and to meet the demand for chemical fertilisers, such as agricultural ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate and triple superphosphate.
This is being coordinated with the Tunisian Chemical Group, the producer of these materials, to ensure farmers have access to the necessary production inputs.
At the end of the meeting, the Prime Minister urged ministers to coordinate their efforts more closely with regional and local structures, as well as with all stakeholders in the agricultural and industrial sectors, in order to double production and build up strategic stockpiles of chemical fertilisers.
She emphasised the importance of ensuring that all safety conditions are met and all preventive measures are taken. She also underscored the need to intensify efforts to ensure the success of interventions at all levels, maintain constant communication with farmers, launch awareness campaigns to benefit them, and provide everything necessary for the 2025–26 agricultural season to run smoothly.
© Tap 2022 Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
21 hours ago
- Zawya
Profmed steps in as 1,800 qualified South Africa doctors face job and healthcare crisis
Far too many doctors, after years of study and service, are left without work, income, or even access to healthcare. This is according to Profmed chief executive officer, Craig Comrie. South African statistics alone reflect that, as of early 2025, between 1,500 and 1,800 doctors who completed their community service were unemployed and unable to secure positions in the public health sector – this, despite healthcare facilities reporting vacancy rates of between 5% and 22%. This stands in stark contrast to the country's dire need for medical professionals. South Africa has an average of just 0.31 doctors per 1,000 people – a figure well below the World Health Organization's recommended minimum of one doctor per 1,000. This mismatch highlights a troubling paradox: newly qualified doctors are struggling to find employment in a system that is simultaneously overwhelmed and understaffed. Supporting young professionals To better support young, qualified doctors and dentists under 30 who are unemployed or recently employed, Comrie is proud to announce the company's new initiative: an offering of 12 months of free medical aid to young, qualified doctors and dentists under 30 who are unemployed or recently employed. To qualify, candidates must have completed their community service in the past two years and either be unemployed or have been employed within the last six months. Furthermore, candidates must register on the finDR platform – a Profmed initiative that places young medical professionals in locum or permanent roles across the country, offers mentorship, and connects them with a community of professionals committed to making a difference. 'This is about more than just medical aid,' says Comrie. 'It's about making sure our young healthcare professionals don't fall through the cracks as they take their first steps into a demanding but vital career. 'We've heard from far too many doctors who, after years of study and community service, are left without work, income, or even the ability to access private healthcare. That's unacceptable, and it's something we're stepping in to change. Providing this kind of support is critical as they transition into the medical profession.' Platform gains traction Profmed officially launched the finDR platform in February 2025. The initial rollout of finDR included an offer of six months of free Profmed medical aid to the first 500 doctors who signed up. Since its launch, finDR has seen significant engagement, with over 560 doctors registering within the first week. The platform's intelligent matching system ensures that placements are aligned with doctors' qualifications, locations, and preferences while making it easier for practices to fill staffing gaps and reduce patient waiting times. "With this new campaign, Profmed is expanding its support and doubling down on its commitment to the country's young professionals," Comrie says. "This offer is our way of saying: you matter. Your career matters. And we're here to help you take that next step, securely and with dignity.' However, Comrie cautions that the need for employment among doctors is even greater than Profmed had anticipated: 'The response to finDR has been phenomenal. With this new campaign, Profmed is expanding its support and doubling down on its commitment to the country's young professionals. "Over 800 qualified doctors have already joined the platform, proving how urgently it's needed."
Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
Tunisia: FM holds talks with Danish counterpart and Parliament Speaker to strengthen bilateral cooperation
Tunis - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Mohamed Ali Nafti, met on Wednesday with his Danish counterpart, Lars Løkke Rasmussen, during a visit to Copenhagen. During the meeting, they emphasised the long-standing relations between Tunisia and Denmark, and Tunisia's desire to strengthen prospects for joint cooperation in various fields. According to a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two ministers agreed to set up a committee to address economic issues and discuss areas in which Denmark excels, such as renewable energy, sustainable agricultural production, and the health and pharmaceutical industries. The Foreign Minister praised the continuous development of Tunisian–Danish relations, noting Denmark's decision to open an embassy in Tunisia in August next year. Nafti added that this decision "represents a strong expression of Denmark's confidence in Tunisia's position in its regional environment, and its commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation and expanding its horizons." He also praised the constructive political dialogue between Tunisia and Denmark, which will assume the presidency of the European Union in the second half of this year. He emphasised the convergence of views between the two countries on a number of regional and international issues of common interest. In this context, he reiterated Tunisia's firm position on the ongoing violations committed by the occupation forces against the Palestinian people, describing these practices as amounting to "genocide." He reiterated Tunisia's call for the Palestinian people to regain their legitimate right to establish a free and independent state in their territories, with Al-Quds as its capital. For his part, Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen expressed his deep satisfaction with the level of bilateral relations since their establishment in 1959, which are based on mutual respect and shared interests. He stated that the opening of a Danish embassy in Tunisia demonstrates Denmark's commitment to enhancing cooperation and fostering a stronger partnership between the two countries. Minister Rasmussen affirmed that Denmark considers Tunisia an important partner in Africa and the Arab region, and is looking forward to strengthening cooperation in many areas, particularly in the fields of education, vocational training, and the transition to renewable energy sources. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Nafti met with Danish Parliament Speaker Søren Gade. The two ministers reviewed Tunisia's development efforts and opportunities for bilateral cooperation in various areas of mutual interest. They also discussed the latest regional and international developments and their implications for stability. During the meeting, the minister expressed Tunisia's gratitude for its historical ties with Denmark and its commitment to enhancing all aspects of bilateral cooperation for the benefit of the two friendly nations. He emphasised the importance of strengthening parliamentary relations to reflect the depth and longevity of bilateral ties. On this occasion, Nafti highlighted Tunisia's approach to consolidating democratic practices and its commitment to the necessary reforms relating to good governance, the fight against corruption, and the establishment of values of social justice and economic recovery under the leadership of President Kais Saied. He also emphasised the important role that the Danish Parliament can play in supporting Tunisia, alongside its European partners, in recovering stolen assets belonging to the Tunisian people. The minister assured the Speaker of the Danish Parliament that Tunisia attaches great importance to security and stability in the region and beyond, and noted that the initiative revived by Tunisia in cooperation with Egypt and Algeria to focus on security and stability in Libya by establishing Libyan institutions capable of uniting Libyans is the best proof of this. He added that Tunisia seeks to make the Mediterranean a secure and stable region. For his part, the Speaker of the Danish Parliament praised the strength of relations between the two countries, affirming his country's interest in strengthening cooperation with Tunisia given its pivotal location in the Mediterranean and on the African continent. He expressed his country's readiness to bolster parliamentary cooperation at the bilateral level and within the European Parliament.
Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
Zimbabwe: Food security and markets monitoring report, April 2025
Situation Update The Second Round Crops, Livestock and Fisheries Assessment (CLAFA-2, 2025) reports a strong recovery in Zimbabwe's agricultural sector, with total cereal production reaching 2,928,206 MT, driven by improved weather conditions and expanded cultivation of maize (up 6.4%) and drought-resistant traditional grains (pearl millet up 29%). Despite a national cereal surplus ranging from 811,732MT to 1,225,732 MT, some districts will require food assistance highlighting persistent regional disparities (CLAFA-2, 2025). The rebound underscores the success of climate-adaptive policies, but targeted interventions remain critical to address food distribution gaps. On the economic front, Zimbabwe's annual inflation stood at 85.7% (April 2025), with a 0.6% monthly rise in local currency prices, while USD-denominated inflation remained low (0.2% monthly). The FAO Food Price Index rose 1% in April, influenced by higher cereal, dairy, and meat prices, though it remains 19.9% below its 2022 peak. Meanwhile, the Food Poverty Line (FPL) reached ZWG 862.06 per person, with the Total Consumption Poverty Line (TCPL) at ZWG 1,263.41, reflecting ongoing cost-of-living pressures despite agricultural recovery. Highlights In USD terms, the month on month inflation was 0.2% up from 0.1% while the annual inflation was 14.4% in April 2025. In local currency, the month on month inflation rate was 0.6% up from -0.1% in March 2025 (RBZ). The seasonal rainfall performance has been characterised by mixed conditions but has concluded generally on a positive note with the country estimating surplus agricultural production (WFP Monitoring). The CLAFA-2 report observed some improvements in crop, livestock and pasture conditions across the country due to significant rains received in both surplus and deficit– producing areas. Maize meal was available in an average of 85% of the rural and urban markets. Other food commodities monitored were generally available in most markets (WFP Monitoring). Price of food on the international market increased by 1% according to the FAO price index. The index stood at 128.3 points. The USD and ZWG cost of the monitored food and non food essential needs basket remained the same in both urban and rural markets when compared to March 2025 (WFP Monitoring). © Copyright The Zimbabwean. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
