Favorable Cereal Harvest Season in Siliana
The cereal harvest season is expected to be particularly favorable in Siliana. Initial estimates suggest a harvest exceeding 3.1 million quintals, representing a 30% increase compared to the previous campaign, confirming the strategic role of the governorate in national cereal production.
Launch of the Wheat Harvest Campaign
The official launch of the wheat harvest campaign took place on Wednesday, June 10, in El Krib, where these figures were presented to the Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Maritime Fisheries, Ezzeddine Ben Cheikh. The ceremony was held at the agricultural domain of the recovered state lands "Siliana 1" in the Borj Messaoudi region.
Promising Season for the Governorate
According to the data communicated during the visit, the planted areas and the conditions of the campaign suggest a promising season for the governorate. The authorities are counting on this performance to strengthen Siliana's contribution to the national cereal supply and support efforts to improve the country's food security.
Infrastructure to Support the Harvest
To support the harvest, the region has 30 operational collection centers this year, offering a total storage capacity of 1.13 million quintals. Two new centers have been put into service to increase reception capacities and bring services closer to producers.
Minister's Inauguration and Call to Action
The Minister inaugurated one of these new collection centers in Borj Messaoudi, while calling for better coordination between technical services, transporters, and collection agencies to ensure the storage of the harvest in good conditions and limit losses.
Simulation Exercise and Prevention Measures
Beyond the cereal campaign, the visit was marked by a simulation exercise organized in Kesra to test the intervention capacity of various services in the event of crop and forest fires. This action is part of the regional authorities' preparations for the summer period. The Minister emphasized the importance of preventive measures and the strengthening of coordination between civil protection, forest services, and other stakeholders to ensure rapid intervention in the event of an incident.
Management of Natural Resources
The management of natural resources was also among the priorities discussed during this visit. Following exchanges with local residents, the Minister asked the concerned services to monitor several local issues, including those related to drinking water, while recalling the need for sustainable management of water and forest resources.
Conclusion and Call for Modernization
The tour ended at the Kantara Agricultural Professional Training Center, where the Minister pleaded for the modernization of training programs to better integrate digital technologies and strengthen the skills necessary for the development of Tunisian agriculture.
