Market Trends of Agriculture in Tunisia
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Tunisia Agriculture Market according to our research experts:
Growing Preference For Organic Farming
In Tunisia, organic cultivation has been gaining prominence over the last few years. Despite being one of the smallest countries in Africa, Tunisia dominates the continent in terms of organic agricultural land and farming. According to the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) statistics, the area under organic cultivation stood at 297,137 hectares in 2020. This trend is largely favored by active government policies promoting organic cultivation in the country due to the increasing demand for organic products in the European market.
Most of the organic land in Tunisia is dedicated to growing olives and dates, and the land area is being gradually increased in recent years. The organic farming area of olives increased by over 15,000 hectares during 2018-2020, reaching 256,173.0 hectares in 2020. The country has also taken measures to establish licensing agencies for organic certification. Four certification bodies, which include IMC, LACON, ECOCERT, and BCS, are licensed under the Ministry of Tunisian Agriculture. With an increase in the area under organic farmland and growing demand for regional organic exports, the agriculture sector in Tunisia is expected to grow during the forecast period.
High Export Potential of Agricultural Products
Despite being a net importer of agricultural products, Tunisia exports various types of agricultural products to neighboring countries and European nations. Agricultural products such as tomatoes, olive oil, potatoes, lettuce, dates, etc., are some of the most exported agriculture products of Tunisia. The export of the country's agricultural products is further strengthened by trade agreements with EU nations, which allow tax-free trade between the nations. As a result, the agricultural exports of the country have increased gradually in recent years. According to the ITC Trade Map, the tomato exports of the country increased by over 50% during the period 2017-2021, reaching over USD 51.96 million in 2021.
Furthermore, the country is promoting its agricultural products globally through various initiatives. For Instance, the Tunisian government launched PAMPAT 2 (Project for Market Access of Typical Agrofood Products) in January 2020, which is aimed at promoting Tunisian local food products. The project is promoting various agricultural products, such as prickly pear, dried tomatoes, processed dates, and pomegranates. As a result, almost 90% of the dried tomatoes produced in the country are exported across the world due to government support and high export value. Therefore, the high export value of agricultural produce, supported by the government's initiatives, is anticipated to drive the agriculture market in the country in the coming years.
