Over 1,5 million ha of cereals for 2011-2012 campaign

One million and 530 thousand hectares are expected to be sowed during the 2011-2012 large-scale farming campaign. These estimates, announced by the Agriculture and Environment Ministry, aroused the discontent of  the Tunisian Agriculture and Fisheries Union on the grounds it had not been involved in the preparation of the forthcoming season. Director of large-scale farming in the Ministry Khaled Lachtar specified to TAP news agency that the areas concerned include 893, 000 ha  in the north and 637, 000 ha  in inland and southern governorates. Areas devoted to hard and soft wheat are estimated at over 700, 000 ha and 149, 000  ha respectively. Additionally,  it is planned to sow 661, 000 ha with barley and 12, 000 ha with triticale. Mr. Monji Chérif,  UTAP spokesperson, expressed regret at " the premeditated exclusion of the Union by the Ministry, " announcing that the former would organise a seminar late September with attendance of all stakeholders.