Prickly pear cactus in Tunisia threatened by invasive pest, production down 60%

Tunisian farmers and producers of prickly pear cactus are sounding an urgent alarm over the devastating impact of the invasive Asian cochineal insect, which has caused a staggering 60% drop in production. The affected region, the Zelfane basin spanning Thala, Foussana, and El Ayoun in the Kasserine governorate, is calling for immediate intervention from regional and central authorities.

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The harvest of the year 2026 shows a drastic drop. Production has thus gone from about 250,000 tons in the past season to nearly 100,000 tons currently, under the effect of the ravages caused by the parasite.

Mohamed Rochdi Bennani, president of the National Association for the Development of Prickly Pear Cactus, revealed that the current harvest has fallen from approximately 250,000 tons to nearly 100,000 tons. He expressed grave concerns that if the infestation continues unchecked, there will be no production whatsoever next season. The "sultan of fruits," as it is known, represents the primary source of income for tens of thousands of families and is considered a national heritage under threat.

Bennani criticized the Ministry of Agriculture's slow response, deeming the efforts insufficient for the scale of the catastrophe. He pointed to delays in public procurement processes for treating and removing infected plants, arguing that such a crisis, akin to a "pandemic," required exceptional and urgent measures rather than standard administrative procedures. This delay has significantly aided the spread of the pest within the core production zone.

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These conditions allowed the fire to quickly reach dangerous proportions and spread rapidly within seven minutes towards nearby residential areas.

While local farmers have made individual efforts, they are insufficient. Bennani is urging for intensified collective interventions, the provision of adequate phytosanitary products, and enhanced technical support. He warned that maintaining the status quo would lead to the definitive collapse of a sector that sustains tens of thousands of households, and he has appealed directly to the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister of the Interior, and the President of the Republic to treat this issue with the utmost urgency.

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This crisis, which has the appearance of a 'pandemic,' required exceptional and urgent measures rather than standard administrative procedures.