By- Radio ML
During a general session held on Tuesday in Bardo to address oral questions, Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Fisheries, Azeddine Ben Sheikh, confirmed that the International Land Office is in the process of finalizing the business plan that includes a clear strategic vision as well as future investments and their funding methods.
Ben Sheikh added that the plan, approved by the narrow ministerial council held on October 8, 2024, will be presented to a working session chaired by the government to determine the necessary actions. He emphasized that following the mentioned narrow ministerial council, the International Land Office received its financial dues amounting to 16 million dinars as a contribution from the Ministry of Finance to pay the wages of workers associated with the reclaimed estates for 2023 and 2024, in addition to enabling it to obtain a seasonal loan guarantee from the National Agricultural Bank worth 50 million dinars.
He confirmed that new measures to advance the "Chaâl" agricultural complex in the Sfax governorate will soon be presented to the government and then to the parliament. Ben Sheikh highlighted that the plan to advance the "Chaâl" agricultural complex includes improving soil fertility and valuing the existing surface wells by cleaning and equipping them with electricity and solar energy. Additionally, the completion of the "Moustar" well and the programming of three deep wells, equipping an initial area of around 40 hectares with drip irrigation at the "Moustation" estate, programming 50 hectares at the "Hesha" estate, and 40 hectares at the "Chaâl" well.
He explained that the measures mainly include improving the pasture in coordination with the Forestry Department by planting 650 hectares of "Acacia" and "Opuntia" and improving the irrigation area supplied with treated wastewater by programming the construction of a deep well to enhance irrigated areas and increase fodder production, programming the acquisition of tractors and agricultural equipment within the framework of the Tunisian-Italian cooperation program, in addition to planning the establishment of a center for egg-laying chickens with a capacity of 90,000 chickens. He also announced, in the same context, the signing of the contract for the acquisition of 88 tractors, trailers, tanks, and other equipment, indicating that the final guarantee has been provided by the company that won the bid pending the transfer of funds to the Central Bank, amounting to 20 million dinars.