صحافة بلادي صحيفة إلكترونية مغاربية متجددة على مدار الساعة تعنى بشؤون المغرب الجزائر ليبيا موريتانيا تونس
Tunisia –The wave of red meat prices continues to rise in Tunisia as the month of Ramadan approaches, amid fears of additional increases coinciding with the rise in seasonal demand, which raises questions about the ability of low-income groups to maintain the presence of meat on their tables.
High prices before Ramadan
According to data monitored in the central market in the capital, the price of a kilogram of lamb meat in some areas reached between 63 and 65 dinars (about 22 dollars), while the price of beef meat ranged between 45 and 47 dinars per kilogram. The price of “Barshani” (male goat) also reached about 51.9 dinars.
This increase comes in an economic context characterized by relatively stable wages, as the guaranteed minimum wage is about 528 dinars per month, while workers in the agricultural and construction sectors receive about 30 dinars per day, which makes the price of one kilogram of lamb equivalent to approximately two days’ wages.
Accusations of speculation and demands to set a price ceiling
Lotfi Riahi, head of the Tunisian Organization for Consumer Guidance, considered speculators and high profit margins to be among the most prominent reasons for the high prices, pointing out that some merchants did not adhere to the price ceiling that had previously been set at around 40 dinars per kilogram in previous initiatives.
Al-Riahi called for the structuring of the price system and the intervention of the competent authorities to control the market, especially during the month of Ramadan, when demand increases significantly, considering that the prices of red meat in turn affect the rest of the consumer items.
The herd declined and the cost of feed increased For his part, Shukri Al-Rizqi, a member of the executive office of the Tunisian Federation of Agriculture and Fisheries, explained that the decline in herd numbers as a result of years of drought represents a major factor in the rise in prices, in addition to the shortage of natural fodder and the increasing reliance on high-cost imported dry fodder.
He pointed out that the sector faces structural challenges, including weak infrastructure and the difficulty of providing labor, which affects the stability of production and market balance.
Livestock smuggling and unregulated practices
In turn, Ahmed Al-Amiri, head of the Butchers Chamber in the Tunisian Union of Industry, Trade and Traditional Industries, attributed part of the increase to the smuggling of livestock outside the country, in addition to the reluctance of some breeders to fatten, and the practices of some unregulated intermediaries.
He stressed that professionals are working to provide meat at prices that are compatible with purchasing power, especially during Ramadan and Eid al-Adha, in light of the decline in the percentage of sacrificial animals in recent years due to high prices.
Social and economic challenges
In light of these data, observers are raising questions about the future of meat prices in the coming weeks, and whether regulatory measures are sufficient to reduce the pressure on consumers, especially vulnerable groups, during the month of Ramadan, which usually witnesses an increase in food consumption.
Source:
“My press” “صحافة بلادي”
