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Tunisia recognizes drought as agricultural calamity in Siliana, Le Kef, and Kasserine, reschedules debts
via Business News1 min read
The Tunisian government has officially recognized the drought that affected major crops during the 2024-2025 agricultural season as a natural calamity in the governorates of Siliana, Le Kef, and Kasserine. This recognition, formalized by a joint decree published in the Official Gazette of the Tunisian Republic on Friday, May 8, 2026, allows for intervention from the Fund for Compensation of Agricultural Damages due to Natural Calamities. The decree, signed on Thursday, May 7, 2026, by the Minister of Agriculture, Ezzeddine Ben Cheikh, and the Minister of Finance, Mechket Slama Khaldi, highlights significant damage, with some areas in Siliana and Kasserine experiencing 100% crop loss. In Le Kef, certain zones reported over 70% and 80% damage to cultivated areas. The drought is considered to have begun in March 2025. The decree also provides for the rescheduling of debts for farmers who received campaign credits for major crops during the 2024-2025 season. To qualify, farmers must present a certificate from the regional agricultural development commission confirming drought-related damages. The National Guarantee Fund will cover the interest resulting from the rescheduling, though this measure will be applied on a case-by-case basis and does not apply to farmers in irrigated areas.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Business News.
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