Drought takes toll on Tunisian fields: State faces financial strain

Tunisian farmers are grappling with the devastating impact of prolonged drought, as rains have failed to replenish their crops this spring. The situation has led to early harvesting, with farmers salvaging what they can as animal feed, while adding financial burdens to a state already struggling to afford wheat imports. The result has been a shortage of bread, with bakeries unable to meet the rising demand. One such farmer, Hasan Chetoui, stood on his farm just outside Tunis, holding dry sheaves of wheat that consisted of empty husks. He managed to save only 20 hectares out of the 150 he had initially planted. Lamenting the lack of water provided by the authorities, Chetoui expressed his helplessness as the current drought surpassed any he had witnessed before. Experts believe that the three-year drought and inadequate rainfall can be attributed to climate change, with the World Bank warning that Tunisia will experience hotter and drier conditions in the future. The severity of ...