APIP Agricultural Policy Implementation Project

ANNEX 1
ROUNDTABLE ON FLORICULTURE
CEPEX organized a roundtable on floriculture held at the El Mechtel Hotel
in Tunis in collaboration with Abt Associates and APIA. The purpose was to
exchange information on the international cut flower market, the Tunisian cut
flower sector, and government export promotion efforts for cut flowers. In
addition, the agenda included discussion of Tunisia-specific problems,
comparisons with Latin American producers, and solutions to floriculture problems
that hinder exports to Europe and elsewhere.
Initially, participants agreed that Tunisian advantages include favorable
climate and soil, relatively low cost of labor, and proximity to Europe.
However, the need to identify market potential was highlighted. Some first steps
were recommended, including defining production and export objectives,
establishing a good flow of market information, and making the market more
familiar to Tunisians. Nancy Laws, of Abt Associates pointed out that Tunisia
faces a market with excellent potential, with world demand increasing 11 percent
annually. One exporter indicated that a comparison between Tunisia and Colombia
isinvalid because Tunisia lacks the facilities and technology that Colombia has,
and its climate and soils are less favorable than Colombia. Ms. Laws responded
to this point by commenting that Colombia and Ecuador started their cut flower
export industries from scratch relatively recently.
Another grower said that Tunisia should not try to export due to the
complexities of the cut flower sector. Exporting from Tunisia was relatively
expensive, he said, compared to other nations. This statement was followed by
a lively debate on the sector's problems. One grower pointed out that
floriculture poses enormous risks, which makes itdifficult to obtain financing,
one reason it remains underdeveloped.
Administrative problems were discussed, including the slow, inefficient
bureaucracy and the fact that airport offices do not respond to the needs of
perishable products.
Technical problems cited included the lack of technical training for staff
and producers and the inadequate technical expertise for production decisions
(such as which flowers to grow), soil analysis, equipment inspections, etc. One
expatriate grower cited a resistance to foreign experts who are not academics.
He also complained that Tunisian customs charges high tariffs, and does not
provide good service (e.g. they are closed on Sundays and holidays, which are
important days for flowers).
The team emphasized that 80 percent of the problems associated with cut
flower exports occur postharvest during packaging, and air/land transportation,
and .,rage. The lack of cold storage facilities was mentioned as a possible
probl-:m, as was the minimum number of flowers needed to justify reserving air
time for exporters. It is important to be able to reserve space for flowers on
passenger planes bringing tourists to Tunisia.
One exporter gave an example of failure due to the foreign partner's
withdrawal from agreement. Also, he said that obtaining insurance to cover
product loss isa problem.