Publish Date : 27-Oct-2017
The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group has agreed to provide Tunisia with two loans totaling 38.626 million euros. These loans, one of which is granted through the Africa Growing Together Fund (AGTF), are intended to finance the project for the valorization of irrigated perimeters and the development of agricultural value chains in Tunisia.
With an integrated approach aimed at developing agricultural value chains in Tunisia, this project will contribute to improving the incomes and living conditions of rural populations living in the less favored areas of the country. The project targets 14 delegations from the center-west of the country, attached to the governorates of Kairouan, Kasserine and Sidi Bouzid.
The project's objectives are in line with the new 2017-2021 country strategy for Tunisia, designed to support the country's efforts and to ensure a return to inclusive growth through support for industrialization and development. value chains, in addition to improving the quality of life of the populations residing in these priority regions. The project also responds to two of the ADB's Top Five Priorities (" High 5" ) " Feeding Africa " and " Improving Living Conditions for African People ".
The project will be deployed between March 2018 and December 2022. Provision is made for the upgrading and rehabilitation of 9,000 net hectares of irrigated perimeters in the targeted rural areas, the development of 32 km of rural roads, the development of agricultural value chains, the improvement of agricultural productivity, valorisation and marketing of products, as well as the development of income-generating and employment activities.
"This project will help reduce regional disparities in Tunisia and improve the living conditions of rural populations in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the country's west-central region," said AfDB Director General for North Africa. Mohamed El Azizi. She added: "The project will directly benefit more than 3,500 households, about 20,000 people, 50% of them women, and will create nearly 4,600 permanent jobs for young people and women."
Beyond agricultural production, the project will help create local development dynamics. It encompasses the strengthening of the activities of agricultural development groups and mutual agricultural service companies by providing training and strengthening farmers' technical and managerial knowledge for effective management of water and irrigation infrastructure. Farmers will also benefit from support in the process of labeling their products. In addition to technical assistance, the project will also facilitate their access to finance through existing mechanisms and the financing of sub-projects in the field of agricultural value chain development.
The AfDB's project portfolio in Tunisia currently has 42 operations, totaling some 1.5 billion euros: 13 in the public sector, 8 in the private sector and 21 donations to 9 operations financed by the Assistance Fund. technical assistance for middle-income countries . The financial sector accounts for 33% of the active portfolio, followed mainly by the transport (27%), water and sanitation (17%), social (12%) and energy (9%) sectors.).
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