Sidi Bouzid: grain reference prices to be announced in coming days (Grain Board)

The reference price for grain stored in the collection centres would be announced in the next few days, Saloua Ben Hadid Zouari, CEO of the Grain Board, said during a visit to Sidi Bouzid. At a meeting with the governor of Sidi Bouzid, she added that she remained optimistic about the good quality of grain in the region, where the quantities collected should amount to around 120,000 quintals of wheat and 20,000 quintals of barley. For his part, Governor Abdelhalim Hamdi said that measures had been taken to ensure a successful harvest season in the region, including raising farmers' awareness of fire prevention and monitoring crop storage conditions at the collection centres, which are mainly located in Lassouda, Sidi Ali Ben Aoun, Mazouna and Menzel Bouzaiane. According to estimates by the local agricultural authorities, grain production in Sidi Bouzid will increase this season to 267,000 quintals, due to an increase in sown areas, which exceeded 7,492 hectares compared to 5,640 hectares last season. In a recent press release, the Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fisheries (UTAP) called on the competent authorities to publish the reference prices for grain and to maintain the exceptional premium, estimated at 10 dinars, in view of the low yields and deteriorating quality in the current agricultural season. UTAP pointed out that the request to publish the prices is aimed at avoiding delays in the collection operations. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse