Tunisian farmers are bracing for a catastrophic cereal harvest as the country's reservoirs lie near empty and the authorities impose water restrictions to ensure that households have enough to drink. All photos: AFP
Tunisian farmers are bracing for a catastrophic cereal harvest as the country's reservoirs lie near empty and the authorities impose water restrictions to ensure that households have enough to drink. All photos: AFP
At a time when the global cereals market has been disrupted by the Ukraine war, Tunisia's domestic grain production has also withered under a lack of rainfall that has killed crops
At a time when the global cereals market has been disrupted by the Ukraine war, Tunisia's domestic grain production has also withered under a lack of rainfall that has killed crops
Even before the roasting summer months, the soil is dry and dusty in the small Mediterranean country
Even before the roasting summer months, the soil is dry and dusty in the small Mediterranean country
With some Tunisian water reservoirs almost completely dry, authorities imposed emergency measures last month, rationing household supplies and banning water use for washing cars – as well as for irrigating fields
With some Tunisian water reservoirs almost completely dry, authorities imposed emergency measures last month, rationing household supplies and banning water use for washing cars – as well as for irrigating fields
The shortages come at a critical time for Tunisia, a net importer of wheat that has been hit hard by price hikes since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, both huge cereals exporters
The shortages come at a critical time for Tunisia, a net importer of wheat that has been hit hard by price hikes since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, both huge cereals exporters
A painful cost-of-living crisis is compounding woes as the government is in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund for a bailout package
A painful cost-of-living crisis is compounding woes as the government is in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund for a bailout package
Tunisia – a country of 12 million where almost every meal involves bread, couscous or other cereals-based food – needs three million tonnes of wheat and barley a year
Tunisia – a country of 12 million where almost every meal involves bread, couscous or other cereals-based food – needs three million tonnes of wheat and barley a year
Normally around two-thirds of this comes from overseas, but with the Ukraine war showing no signs of abating, that option looks expensive or even impossible
Normally around two-thirds of this comes from overseas, but with the Ukraine war showing no signs of abating, that option looks expensive or even impossible
The lack of rain has left reservoirs at historic lows of less than a third of capacity nationwide
The lack of rain has left reservoirs at historic lows of less than a third of capacity nationwide
The biggest, located at Sidi Salem, a short drive from Chaouachi's farm, is filled to just 16 per cent of capacity
The biggest, located at Sidi Salem, a short drive from Chaouachi's farm, is filled to just 16 per cent of capacity
The area has seen less than 10 centimetres (four inches) of rain since the autumn, pushing farmers either to plough withered crops back into the soil or harvest the stalks for animal feed
The area has seen less than 10 centimetres (four inches) of rain since the autumn, pushing farmers either to plough withered crops back into the soil or harvest the stalks for animal feed
Farming and fishing union UTAP has called on the government to urgently announce a drought and state of water 'emergency'
Farming and fishing union UTAP has called on the government to urgently announce a drought and state of water 'emergency'
Tunisia devotes 80 per cent of its water supply to irrigating just eight percent of its farmland, leaving the remainder to rely on increasingly scarce rainfall
Tunisia devotes 80 per cent of its water supply to irrigating just eight percent of its farmland, leaving the remainder to rely on increasingly scarce rainfall

MENA

Tunisia drought threatens grain harvest - in pictures

Lack of rainfall in North Africa has killed off crops

The National

April 15, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

More from The National:

Tunisia's tourist village of Sidi Bou Said - in pictures

Tunisia dairy market struggles as price of cow feed soars - in pictures

Drought at Istanbul’s dam - in pictures

Iraq's prolonged drought reveals historic sites flooded by Mosul dam

Horn of Africa drought drives 22 million to hunger - in pictures

In Full Flight: A Story of Africa and Atonement
John Heminway, Knopff

How to improve Arabic reading in early years

One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient

The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers

Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades

Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic

First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations

Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades

Improve the appearance of textbooks

Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings

Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught

Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

 

Killing of Qassem Suleimani
How to donate

Text the following numbers:

2289 - Dh10

6025 - Dh 20

2252 - Dh 50

2208 - Dh 100

6020 - Dh 200 

*numbers work for both Etisalat and du

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick

Hometown: Cologne, Germany

Family: Wife Hanan Ahmed and their three children, Marrah (23), Tibijan (19), Amon (13)

Favourite dessert: Umm Ali with dark camel milk chocolate flakes

Favourite hobby: Football

Breakfast routine: a tall glass of camel milk

Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
The national orchestra
The five pillars of Islam
On Women's Day
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Our commentary on Brexit
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
While you're here
Towering concerns
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Farage on Muslim Brotherhood

Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

More on this story:
RACE CARD

6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,200m

7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,900m

7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 2,000m

8.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,600m

8.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m

9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m

On Women's Day
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

While you're here
more from Janine di Giovanni
Read more about the coronavirus
Tomorrow 2021
The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

How Filipinos in the UAE invest

A recent survey of 10,000 Filipino expatriates in the UAE found that 82 per cent have plans to invest, primarily in property. This is significantly higher than the 2014 poll showing only two out of 10 Filipinos planned to invest.

Fifty-five percent said they plan to invest in property, according to the poll conducted by the New Perspective Media Group, organiser of the Philippine Property and Investment Exhibition. Acquiring a franchised business or starting up a small business was preferred by 25 per cent and 15 per cent said they will invest in mutual funds. The rest said they are keen to invest in insurance (3 per cent) and gold (2 per cent).

Of the 5,500 respondents who preferred property as their primary investment, 54 per cent said they plan to make the purchase within the next year. Manila was the top location, preferred by 53 per cent.

The%20specs%3A%202024%20Mercedes%20E200
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.0-litre%20four-cyl%20turbo%20%2B%20mild%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E204hp%20at%205%2C800rpm%20%2B23hp%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E320Nm%20at%201%2C800rpm%20%2B205Nm%20hybrid%20boost%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E9-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E7.3L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2FDecember%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh205%2C000%20(estimate)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

While you're here
While you're here
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
World Mental Health Day
Kareem Shaheen on Canada
While you're here
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
On Women's Day
On Women's Day
1971: The Year The Music Changed Everything

Director: Asif Kapadia

4/5

World Mental Health Day
Opinions on Lebanon
Updated: April 15, 2023, 8:41 AM`