You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
TUNISIA<br />
INCREASED DEMAND FOR ORGANIC PRODUCE:<br />
DATES AND CITRUS<br />
Continually over the last ten years Tunisia has been specializing in organic<br />
farming, whose area is increasing progressively. “Known under the hallmark Bio<br />
Tunisia, organic products are becoming more and more important”.<br />
Elke Peiler, project manager foodstuff sector of the<br />
German-Tunesian IHK, talks about the increasing<br />
demand of Tunisia organic produce on the German market,<br />
“and also in international markets” – as reported by Freshplaza.com.<br />
Dates are the most important product in the organic<br />
sector. In 2011, 6,000 tons of organic dates were<br />
harvested in Tunisia, of which 4,000 tons (67%) was exported.<br />
68% of this went to Germany, 11% to the United States<br />
and 7% to Morocco.<br />
At present about 1,000 HA of date orchards have been<br />
certified ‘organic’. Most of these are in the south-east<br />
of Tunisia.<br />
The north-east of the country is mostly suited for citrus<br />
cultivation, especially the peninsula Cap Bon.<br />
Seven producers have been successful in obtaining the certificate<br />
and already export organic oranges and lemons. There<br />
is the intention to increase the production consequently.<br />
Also in the northern area the increase of the organic<br />
cultivation is going in this direction. The certified<br />
area last year increased by 2,500 HA to 6,000 HA and will<br />
be used for the cultivation of fruit, vegetables and grain, but<br />
also for medicinal plants and aromatic plants.<br />
The organic sector is financially supported by the government.<br />
The ministry of Agriculture actually has ambitious<br />
plans: the area used for organic agriculture and the<br />
number of organic companies must be increased. Up to 2014<br />
the present export yields must be increased from 44 million<br />
Euro to about 60 million Euro. With the present export value<br />
of the organic sector, Tunisia ranks second among African<br />
countries and 24th worldwide.<br />
Source<br />
FRANCE<br />
FRANCE BETS ON THE ORGANIC,<br />
CULTIVATED AREA OVER 1 000 000 HECTARES<br />
The latest figures from Agence Bio show that, after the record year in 2010,<br />
the organic area in France has increased again by 130,000 HA in 2011, a<br />
rise by 15.3% that will allow to go beyond the 1,000,000 HA.<br />
the end of 2011, France had 23,135 organic companies, 12% more than in 2010. In total,<br />
At 4.5% of the French companies grow organically on a total of 975,141 ha at the moment.<br />
Thanks to 811 new organic producers, the limit of 1,000,000 HA will be exceeded.<br />
he double-figure growth of the French organic sector since 2010 is confirmed”, commented<br />
“TElizabeth Mercier of Agence Bio. The aim of an 8% share of the organic agriculture will<br />
not be reached, however. With a share of a little more than 3.5%, the present share is still quite low.<br />
Source<br />
ISSUE II 7
Change language