Despite the arid season in Tunisia, where the lack of rainfall led to a drop in production in almost all crops, the watermelon sector escaped unharmed, according to Mohamed Akermi, CEO of Tunileaf.
Akermi explains, "It is important to remember that not all regions are equally affected by water stress. In the far northwest of the country, in the regions of Jendouba, El Kef, and Bizerte, dams are known to have a filling rate of almost 100%. The recent rains, which came just in time for the watermelon season, have replenished the dams by a further 14 million cubic meters, most of which is almost entirely in the northern dams, bringing the total reserves of the 32 dams to around 717.6 million cubic meters".
"The impact of the drought this year only necessitated a shift in production zones, so I transferred my production from the center of the country to the north," adds Akermi.
According to the grower, "a good number of new investors have joined the watermelon sector, and the crop has been introduced to new areas, increasing Tunisian watermelon volumes by 20% this season compared with the previous one."
"This proves the good quality of Tunisian production and the subsequent demand, as we offer a range of excellent quality watermelons, appreciated by consumers, in the Sentinel and Crimson varieties, and in the sizes preferred by importers and consumers, 8-12 kg and 12-18 kg."
"Tunisian watermelons, which arrived on the market at the beginning of June and will be available until the end of July, are currently well received in France and Germany. We're also looking to expand into other European markets, such as the Netherlands and the Scandinavian countries."
Akermi concludes, "We also benefit from many advantages, including quality and geographical proximity to Europe, as well as calmer competition towards the end of the season, with only Moroccan production offering calendars simultaneous with ours."
For more information:
Akermi Mohamed
TuniLeaf
Tel: +21654559332
m.akermi@tunileaf.com