Par- Radio ML
The National Office of Feeds announced on Thursday that it will apply discounts on the sale prices of corn grains, which will start being imported in January 2025, for the benefit of breeders and compound feed factories according to an annual agreement that ensures regular supply at preferential prices.
In a statement, the office explained that the normal selling price of corn grains from the National Office of Feeds' warehouses is determined upon the conclusion of the import deal according to a true cost structure. This price is updated and adjusted with each import operation.
It added that a 2% discount will be granted to breeders and feed factories when they are supplied directly from the port quay.
Further discounts will be granted to breeders and feed factories with annual supply agreements in the following cases:
Creating a two-month self-stock enjoying a 1% discount from the normal selling price.
Pre-confirmation of the order in exchange for a 2% discount from the normal selling price.
Pre-confirmation of the order and creating a two-month self-stock, entitling the concerned party to a 3% discount from the normal selling price.
Regarding order submission and payment, the National Office of Feeds clarified that orders are to be submitted directly to its commercial department and paid in cash through a transfer to the office's account. Breeders or feed factories in this case will be granted a 0.5% discount from the normal selling price.
Deferred payment using a guaranteed bill of exchange or bank guarantee without financial charges can be done in certain cases:
30 days from the start date of supply within the framework of an annual supply agreement.
45 days from the start date of supply within the framework of an annual supply agreement with pre-confirmation of the order.
60 days from the start date of supply within the framework of an annual supply agreement considering the creation of a self-stock with pre-confirmation of the order. Financial charges will be calculated outside the framework of an annual supply agreement.
The office stated that orders are confirmed by paying a 50% advance of their estimated value based on the prevailing price of corn grains, with the payment balance settled upon determining the normal selling price before delivery begins. The advance payment and order settlement are done according to specified payment procedures.
The office also noted that it has established a cell within it to monitor the evolution of feed raw material prices in the domestic and global markets and developments in the field of animal nutrition, contributing to the efficiency of market regulation procedures.
Additionally, the office mentioned that it has started digitizing this process at the programming and implementation level, setting up a platform to ensure interactive efficiency and transparency.
The office called on those interested in joining this program and obtaining their corn grain needs to contact the commercial department of the National Office of Feeds directly, to obtain a declaration form or request a digital copy via the following email: onf@onf.tn
The decree establishing the National Office of Feeds was published in the Official Gazette of the Tunisian Republic on January 10, 2024, including details of this new public structure, its organization, and interventions in the sector.
The National Office of Feeds will be particularly responsible for contributing to the determination of national and sectoral strategies for promoting feed resources, governance of their management, determination and provision of the annual needs for feed resources for livestock, production, import, and distribution of feed resources, trading in them, as well as forming reserve stocks and carrying out necessary market regulation interventions.
It has also been tasked with contributing to the implementation of technical and economic studies related to the feed system, including production cost estimates. It is noteworthy that the National Office for Livestock and Feed, previously responsible for feed issues and affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture, has been maintained as a public structure.
The establishment of this National Office of Feeds follows the instructions of the President of the Republic, Kais Saied, to end the feed crisis in Tunisia and eliminate monopolistic practices in the field, at a time when the feed crisis is worsening due to ongoing drought and scarce pastures, which are part of the livestock and cattle's food system.
Farmers repeatedly complain about the rising feed prices in recent years, as 60 to 80 percent of animal production costs come from feed.