APIP Agricultural Policy Implementation Project

production is expensive because it is a long-cycle (three-month) flower and
greenhouse heating costs have soared with rising fuel costs.
Tunisia already grows many of the same mediterranean flowers that are in
high demand in France. Besides roses, Tunisia grows other flowers with good
export potential including chrysanthemum (marguerite) and gladioli. While these
and other varieties such as carnations, gypsophila, roses, statice, and
strelitzia, are viable flowers to produce in Tunisia, the ability to achieve
export quality in volume has not yet been demonstrated. According to one
wholesaler at Rungis, one shipment of strelitzia from Tunisia was tested on the
market but did not meet quality standards. The wholesaler felt that itwould be
very difficult to compete with French production.
Of course, successfully competing with existing developing country
suppliers is a bigger problem. Tunisia would have difficulty competing with
Colombia and Peru, which are prominent producers of carnations and gypsophila
respectively. Tunisia should exploit its strong competitiveness with respect to
its location and seasonal market windows. The French market holds the greatest
potential due to the strong growth in cut flower imports against declining
domestic production, and the well-established trade, transportation, and
communication links.
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