Page 47 - AA 2022 YEAR BOOK

Syria Tunisia

difficult to source due to the drastically
reduced 2021 harvest, and seed quality is POULTRY PRODUCES 76 MILLION
expected to be poor, with low germination
rates. However, farmers lacking feasible
economic livelihood alternatives continue TABLE EGGS IN 2021 AND PLANS TO
to cultivate their lands, often using less
intensive production methods and lower
amounts of inputs. PRODUCE 161 MILLION IN 2022
• In response to the challenges faced
by farmers in the 2020/21 season,
immediate action is required to support The Director-General of the General
the agricultural sector and prevent Poultry Corporation stated that the
further erosion of productive assets. Past Corporation’s production amounted to
crop assessment missions advocated for 76.8 million table eggs during 2021year
a transition away from emergency and until the end of last September, from its
basic livelihood support to the recovery plan of 100 million eggs, and during
and reconstruction of the agricultural the same period it produced 602 tons
sector. This year, however, the urgent of broilers, 2.1 million hatching eggs
delivery of emergency support is critical and one million chicks. Broilers, in
as the upcoming season is likely to be addition to producing 2.7 million eggs
affected by below-average precipitation hatching eggs and 915,000 white chicks stated that the Corporation is working
and inadequate availability of quality explained that the production capacity of to complete the rehabilitation of the
seeds. The aim of emergency support the institution has been increased in the sheds of the poultry facility in Aleppo,
would be to mitigate shortages and production plan for the next year by 61 after its hiatus for 10 years due to
improve access to inputs, ensuring million table eggs from the current year, terrorism. Cardboard dishes in Tartous
sufficient supplies of diesel at official and the plan included the production poultry so that it covers the needs of the
establishment’s facilities and does not
rates for farming operations, and to avert of 161 million table eggs, 530 thousand need to be purchased from the private
destocking of animals due to high feed tons of chicken, 2500 thousand chicken sector.
costs. chicks and 1800 thousand white chicks.
TUNISIA
ABOVE- AVERAGE CEREAL PRODUCTION

HARVESTED IN 2021

Harvesting of the 2021 winter cereals May 2021 due to general strikes in the Despite fertilizer shortages, the 2021
is about to conclude. Sowing took area and resulting in a dramatic decline cereal production is estimated at an
place under relatively favourable in supply. Already at the end of October above average level of 1.8 million tonnes,
conditions between late October 2020, only one quarter of domestic over 20 percent above the 2020 average
and early December 2020. Although fertilizer demand was satisfied. Although harvest on account of favourable weather
inadequate rainfall amounts in January supplementary imports were authorized conditions. Domestic crop production
and February raised concerns about by the government to cover the shortage, varies markedly from year to year
crop conditions, favourable rainfall farmers reported disruptions in the because of significant rainfall variations.
amounts and distribution in the following supply. Increases in prices of fertilizers The irrigated wheat area represents
months, particularly in April during the by 30 50 percent are also reported. less than 15 percent of the total wheat
grain filling stage, contributed to crop planted area.
recovery in the main cereal producing
areas in the northern part of the country.
In central and southern parts of the
country, where cereal production is
less important, rainfall deficits affected
rangelands. Low quality of pasture has
necessitated securing supplementary
feed sources and livestock owners deem
feed expensive.
Although the production of phosphate
has been shrinking since 2011, when it was
the main earner of foreign currency, the
country is still among the most important
world producers. The chemical fertilizer
plant in Gafsa Governorate remained
closed between November 2020 and

Arab Agriculture 2022 45