Red meat: the crisis is spiraling out of control in Tunisia

Tunisia's red meat sector is grappling with a crisis that has moved beyond temporary fluctuations to become a deep-seated structural problem, posing a significant threat to the nation's food security. Lotfi Riahi, president of the Tunisian Organization for Consumer Guidance, has articulated the severity of the situation, highlighting a stark paradox: soaring consumer prices amidst an opaque understanding of production costs and a critical lack of reliable data on the national livestock population.

“

La crise des viandes rouges en Tunisie n’est plus conjoncturelle, mais structurelle, menaçant directement l’un des piliers de la sécurité alimentaire nationale.

This crisis is not merely a matter of supply and demand imbalance. It reflects a progressive erosion of production capabilities. The national herd is shrinking, driven not just by short-term economic pressures but by fundamental economic disincentives that compel farmers to sell off breeding stock. Ironically, the very rise in retail prices exacerbates this trend, further destabilizing the productive base rather than stimulating it. The situation is compounded by poorly managed cost structures, where even recent declines in animal feed prices fail to offset broader issues like governance gaps, inadequate technical support, and the high cost of veterinary services.

“

le marché se caractérise par un paradoxe frappant : une hausse continue des prix à la consommation, alors même qu’aucune vision précise des coûts de production n’est disponible.

The inefficiencies extend to the distribution chain, where numerous intermediaries and a lack of effective margin regulation contribute to inflated final prices. This directly impacts consumers, whose purchasing power is already diminishing. The consequence is a reduced access to essential animal protein, a concern particularly acute as red meat is considered a staple, not a luxury, in the Tunisian diet.

“

Le cheptel national connaît ainsi une contraction continue, liée non seulement à des facteurs conjoncturels, mais surtout à des déséquilibres économiques poussant les éleveurs à des choix contraints, notamment la vente des femelles reproductrices.

Public policy responses have been criticized as insufficient, relying on ad-hoc measures like imports and temporary price interventions rather than addressing the root structural issues. From a Tunisian perspective, this crisis is a critical issue of national sovereignty and economic resilience. The reliance on imports and the weakening of local production capacity are deeply concerning. The narrative in Tunisia emphasizes the need for a comprehensive strategy that supports local farmers, improves data collection, and streamlines distribution to ensure stable access to essential food items. The current approach, as described by Riahi, merely postpones the inevitable and increases the long-term cost, demanding a more robust and sustainable solution.

“

Or, souligne Riahi, les viandes rouges ne constituent pas un produit de luxe, mais un élément essentiel de l’alimentation, ce qui rend leur renchérissement particulièrement préoccupant.