Agricultural risks in Tunisia: Damage worth 65 Million USD during the 2017/2018 season

According to the president of the Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fisheries (UTAP), damage to the agricultural sector amounts to 182 million TND (65 million USD) during the season 2017/2018. These are mainly natural catastrophe-related losses due to climate change (floods, hail, etc.).

The Tunisian state bears only 6% of the total value of damages, ie 11 million TND (4 million USD). The rest is borne by farmers.

The last floods in the Cap Bon region are not included in the figures above. This flood-related damage has affected 1,000 hectares of fruit and citrus trees, 100 hectares of strawberries, 200,000 poultry, 500 head of cattle and 600 hives. UTAP is campaigning for the establishment of a natural disasters fund to provide assistance to the heavily-indebted farmers.