Tunisia Prepares to Launch New Campaign for Prickly Pear Fig Harvest
This typically Tunisian fruit, once overlooked, has now become a symbol of industrial upgrading and innovation in inland regions.
Behind this fruit lies a remarkable success story of agro-industrial development in rural areas. Tunisia has become one of the world leaders in the production of certified organic prickly pear fig oil, an anti-aging elixir that has successfully penetrated cosmetic export markets.
A Decade of Growth
In just ten years, the country has gone from 5 cactus processing companies to 73 specialized enterprises, with half of them led by women, five times the national average in other sectors. Moreover, 38 new companies have been established in the last five years. This entrepreneurial dynamic has created over 1,400 permanent and seasonal jobs, with a strong involvement of rural women. The consolidated turnover of companies operating in cactus processing has increased by 140% between 2020 and 2024.
Support from International Organizations
Since 2013, the prickly pear fig sector has received support from the Project for Access to Markets for Agro-Food and Terroir Products (PAMPAT), funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) and implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Industry, and the Ministry of Commerce.
New Publication Highlights Success Story
To trace the different stages of the sector's development and benefit from similar initiatives, a new UNIDO publication titled "Developing a New Agro-Industrial Sector in Tunisia - The Case of Organic Prickly Pear Fig" has been released.
This document focuses on the Kasserine region, which exemplifies the results achieved at the territorial level. The governorate now represents 37% of the national turnover of the prickly pear fig sector and 30% of investments made since 2013. In Kasserine, the prickly pear fig has become a true driver of local development. The gradual introduction of good agricultural practices, the application of biological production techniques, and the professionalization of post-harvest activities have profoundly marked the local sector. Today, the certified organic cultivated area has been multiplied by five, positioning the region as a reference pole for sustainable production.
Impact on Local Economy
In the space of ten years, local producers have seen the selling price of the fruit more than triple, increasing their revenues. In parallel, the daily wages of agricultural workers in Kasserine have increased by 120%. This dynamic has created new economic perspectives in one of the country's most disadvantaged territories.
International Success
Beyond its local impact, Tunisia has established itself internationally. Exported to all five continents, prickly pear fig oil has become the spearhead of new Tunisian cosmetics. 55 companies, mostly led by women, market their products abroad. In 2021, Tunisia became the first country to publish a technical standard for this oil, marking a major step in the sector's quality approach.
Diversification of Products
This international success, driven by prickly pear fig oil, is part of a larger dynamic. In parallel to the growth of exports of this cosmetic ingredient, the sector has experienced accelerated diversification of its products. By 2024, nearly 400 new references will have been developed, ranging from agri-food products to elaborate cosmetic formulations and parapharmaceuticals derived from cactus. This evolution reflects the increased competitiveness of local enterprises and better valorization of the entire fruit, in a circular economy perspective.
Collaboration and Innovation
One of the decisive factors in the sector's success has been the establishment of a genuine culture of collaboration between different actors. Over the years, solid links have been woven between Tunisian producers and processing companies, ensuring better fluidity between upstream and downstream and creating an environment conducive to investment and innovation. This collaborative dynamic has been particularly evident in the implementation of an ambitious public-private sector promotion program around the "Organic Cactus Seed Oil - Origin Tunisia" logo, aimed at positioning Tunisian prickly pear fig oil on international markets.
Institutional Support
Tunisian public institutions are also playing an increasingly active role in strengthening the sector's competitiveness. The Centre for Export Promotion (CEPEX) regularly organizes promotional activities and matchmaking events internationally, while the Agency for Agricultural Extension and Training (AVFA) is about to launch a continuous training program dedicated to prickly pear fig. The Interprofessional Group of Fruits (GIFRUITS) has announced the organization of "Cactus Innov", the first innovation contest for the prickly pear fig sector. Meanwhile, the National Office of Handicrafts has closed the first edition of the "ARTITERROIR" contest to promote artisanal creations around the artistic theme of cactus. The Ministry of Tourism is engaged in promoting immersive tourist experiences around prickly pear fig in Nabeul and Kairouan.
Challenges Ahead
This impressive journey should not, however, obscure the current challenges. Since 2021, the sector has faced a major threat: the cochineal insect, which threatens plantations. To address this, a national integrated pest management strategy has been put in place by the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with the private sector. Natural predators of the cochineal have been released in production areas to promote sustainable biological control. Meanwhile, resistant cactus varieties have been identified for replanting. These efforts reflect a structured approach that will enable the agro-industrial sector to continue advancing while strengthening its resilience.
A Model of Sustainable Development
Tunisian prickly pear fig embodies a model of sustainable agro-industrial development, founded on the valorization of local resources, collaboration, entrepreneurial spirit, and innovation. The new UNIDO publication documents this journey and proposes a set of concrete benchmarks for other sectors seeking competitiveness. It demonstrates that even sectors perceived as having low potential can become drivers of growth when they rely on collective vision, coordinated commitment, and the will to move forward together.
Link to the new publication: https://pampat.tn/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Guide-FdeB-Web-06-25-1.pdf
For more information: pampattunis@unido.org
