Translation of the News Article
Introduction to Community Societies' Access to State-Owned Agricultural Land
The Ministry of Agriculture has recently announced the allocation of 17,014 hectares of land, spread across 38 state-owned agricultural farms in ten governorates and 24 delegations, to community societies. This initial list is expected to be followed by additional allocations.
Background and Context
The announcement stems from a written question posed by MP Manel Bdida on March 10, 2026, regarding the concrete application of the joint decree of November 4, 2025. This decree grants community societies priority access to lease state-owned agricultural land through a restricted call for tenders. In response, the Ministry outlined the work of an interministerial commission established in February 2025, comprising the Ministries of Agriculture, State Domains, and Employment.
Ongoing Efforts and Future Plans
This first list is merely a preliminary step, as the Ministry is already working on a second list. Certain state-owned lands recovered and vacant in the El Amra delegation of Sfax may be added to the upcoming list. The community societies project, a key pillar of the economic model envisioned by Kaïs Saïed, has thus reached a new milestone. However, despite the resources mobilized, the scheme continues to raise questions about its ability to produce large-scale economic results and trigger a genuinely sustainable development dynamic.
Challenges and Concerns
The current economic climate does not help alleviate doubts, as the majority of Tunisian SMEs are facing a persistent crisis, and public finances remain under significant pressure. The acceleration of access to state-owned land occurs amidst these challenges, prompting concerns about the project's viability and potential impact on the economy.
