Day: May 22, 2023

Maintaining and developing beekeeping in the Maghreb countries is the objective of a new project launched by the Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (FAO) sub-regional office for North Africa, on the occasion of World Bee Day (May 20).

Launched in collaboration with the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), the project aims to support stakeholders in member countries to develop and promote beekeeping as a profitable economic activity, while focusing on sustainable practices and biodiversity conservation, the FAO Sub-regional Office for North Africa announced Monday.

With a budget of nearly US$500,000 to strengthen the contribution of beekeeping to biodiversity and rural economies, the project will be implemented in collaboration with the five Ministries of Agriculture of the North African countries.

It will provide technical assistance to institutions involved in the sector, as well as beekeeping organisations, to improve practices, enhance beekeepers’ capacities, facilitate access to markets for beekeeping products, and promote their marketing, the same source added.

The project will also provide an opportunity to work on the institutional framework and the establishment of a coherent strategy for the development of sustainable beekeeping in North Africa, it said.

Bees are an integral part of our environment, which they shape and maintain, it was recalled. Their foraging plays a crucial role in the pollination of plants and ensures the reproduction of many plant species, not to mention their impact on the preservation of ecosystems, it was added.

“Beekeeping is a subtle alliance between man and bee. It is more than an economic activity. Beekeeping is a symbol of fertility, prosperity and sustainability,” said Philippe Ankers, FAO Coordinator for North Africa and Representative for Tunisia.

“For centuries, our ancestors have maintained a harmonious relationship with bees, aware of the benefits they bring to our ecosystems and to society,” he added.

“And North Africa, with its diversity of climates, flora and landscapes, offers a favourable environment for the development of beekeeping. From Mauritania to Libya, through Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, the region is rich in natural resources that support the life of bees and promote the production of honey and other bee products of exceptional quality,” he said.

“North Africa is the cradle of beekeeping, which has been a widespread activity for generations. This sector, which is a priority for rural development, has experienced fluctuations in recent years in terms of the total number of hives and production,” said Mohammed Bengoumi, Animal Production and Health Officer in the FAO Office for North Africa.

“Honey production in Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia was estimated in 2020 at 5,376, 764, 8,334 and 3,645 tonnes of honey, respectively, (FAO, 2021),” he said.

“In addition to the products of the hive, namely honey, royal jelly, wax, propolis, bee venom, etc., the beekeeping sector is seeing the emergence of new products and services related to beekeeping activities, which represent opportunities for the creation of new job niches and new sources of income,” he said.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The problem of bread shortage should be solved in the coming hours, said Monday President of the Republic Kaïs Saïed, adding that some known parties are behind the shortage of basic products.

“These parties want to create a supply crisis that could also affect hydrocarbons,” Saied said on the sidelines of his visit to the headquarters of the Ministry of Agriculture, adding that the administration must be at the level of expectations to cope with these phenomena.

During his meeting with Agriculture Minister Abdelmoneim Belati, the head of state said that “the shortage of bread and basic products is a red line”.

“Some circles and lobbies are trying to exasperate the situation, their names are known,” Saïed added. He went on to say that “it is no longer a question of talking about classified and unclassified bread. Bread must be made available to citizens, as well as basic products and the cereal office must play its role as well as all other administrations,” he said.

For Saied, “this situation can no longer continue, by letting these people manipulate the livelihoods and lives of citizens by inventing each time a crisis, including those of bread, sugar and vegetable oil.

“The shortage of products is part of the exasperation of the situation for known political reasons, which requires an awareness of the people,” said the head of state, calling on all officials within the administration to assume their full responsibilities in all impartiality and serve the general interest.

“It is inadmissible that an official considers serving political parties or parties that do not appear in the forefront but are very active. We know their names and we will no longer remain silent in the face of this situation,” he said.

The President of the Republic called on the Grain Board to revise the laws if they block work. The measures must not delay transactions and market supplies, especially since the regulations are put in place to serve the interests of society and citizens.

“He who does not assume his responsibility has no place in the Tunisian administration,” said Saied.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The strategic focus on Africa is a choice that will be underpinned through an integrated programme for the development of Ras Jedir border crossing, Trade and Export Development Minister Kalthoum Ben Rejab said on Monday. The border facility will serve as a trade gateway.

The minister was speaking on the sidelines of an information day held to launch an electronic foreign trade portal. Efforts are underway to activate the national trade facilitation commission, she said, as part of commitments with the World Trade Organisation and other trading partners.

“A dashboard will also be set up to monitor logistical and sales efficiency indicators in sea, air and land commercial border crossings,” she added.

There is need to adapt to current challenges facing foreign trade which, Kalthoum Ben Rejab highlighted, ‘must be an engine for all economic activities.”

It is also imperative to upgrade the performance of the private sector and embrace new technologies and digitisation to increase the transparency of transactions, ease the red tape and sharpen the competitive edge of businesses and the national economy.

SOS Export service geared towards increasing the fluidity of export operations and supporting exporters fits within the implementation of the national emergency reform programme, the minister said.

Tunisia is determined to enter into global and regional value chains, notably after joining Arab and African free trade zones.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse