In Tunisia, volumes of summer fruits are expected to remain stable this year, reaching around 607,000 tonnes, according to AfricanManager.
However, the variety of fruit grown in the country is set to increase, thanks to the growth in apple and pear production, with volumes hitting 126,000 and 65,000 tonnes respectively, as well as the maturing of other varieties of fruit, including grapes, peaches, prickly pears and melons.
AfricanManager states that the country is forecast to produce 308,000 tonnes of citrus, an increase of 4 per cent, with 26,000 tonnes mooted for export.
Date production has increased by 11 per cent in the past year, with volumes for the 2008/09 season standing at 162,000 tonnes, 65,000 tonnes of which was exported.
As for vegetables, potato production varies between 170,000 and 190,000 tonnes, while fresh tomato production is expected to exceed 1m tonnes this year.
Before the end of 2010, a study is expected to be completed on the possible conversion of the island of Kerkennah, off the east coast of Tunisia, into a region for organic agriculture.
