Private agricultural investments approved by the Agricultural Investment Promotion Agency (APIA) in the first ten months of 2023 fell by 20.9% compared to the same period in 2022.
They amounted to TND 350.3 million, the APIA said in its statistical bulletin published on Saturday.
Compared to the 2016-2020 development plan, the approved investments have decreased by 20.9%. These investments will create 2,270 permanent jobs.
APIA also reported a 10.7% increase in approved investments in the fisheries sector, which reached TND 42.8 million.
Seven investment operations with foreign participation were approved for a value of TND 12.5 million, compared to two operations for a value of TND 4.5 million during the same period in 2022.
Investments approved for young people amounted to TND 37.8 million, compared to TND 47.1 million. Those approved for women increased from TND 21.7 million in 2022 to TND 26.1 million.
Approved investments benefited from subsidies amounting to TND 103.3 million, representing 29.5% of the approved investment volume. Subsidies for the purchase of agricultural equipment amounted to TND 40.6 million, representing 39.3% of total approved subsidies. The self-financing rate decreased to 49.7%.
Approved investment in photovoltaic equipment increased to TND 10 million, with subsidies of 4.9 million. Investments in organic farming amounted to 9.1 million, with subsidies of TND 2.9 million.
Approved investments in olive tree planting components amounted to TND 5.9 million, with subsidies of TND 2.8 million. Approved investments in water saving components amounted to TND 14.5 million, with subsidies of TND 7.2 million.
The Benefit Granting Committees approved 30 land loans worth TND 4.7 million. These loans will enable 303 hectares of land to be brought into the economic cycle.
During the first ten months of 2023, reported agricultural investments totaled TND 1,104.1 million, a decrease of 1.3%. Compared with the 2016-2020 development plan, declarations fell by 2.1%.
Investments reported in the primary processing sector increased to TND 122.6 million, after being around TND 56 million. Those reported online amounted to TND 548.4, representing 49.7% of the total volume reported.
