Salwa Benhadid Zouari, CEO of the Grain Board, announced that the Board had collected 6.7 million quintals, 88% of which was durum wheat, describing the 2023-2024 season as “average but important” in terms of replenishing strategic stocks.
Zouari explained that in addition to supervising the collection of grain, the Board is obliged to supply the country on a regular basis, adding that estimates for grain imports are made after the collection process to ensure regular supplies to meet the needs of the domestic market.
She pointed out that the State’s objective is to achieve self-sufficiency in durum wheat, as its prices on the international market are high compared to those of common wheat, and that the supply of durum wheat is affected by production and climatic factors, with years of drought and global crises forcing 80% of durum wheat needs to be imported from abroad.
She went on to say that the two-month strategic stock has been replenished and that the market is regularly supplied, adding that Tunisia has sufficient grain stocks until next February.