As part of following up the 2009-2014 presidential programme to boost organic farming, a cabinet meeting, held on Wednesday under President Zine el Abidine Ben Ali's chairmanship, reviewed development of this sector and looked at the strategy the Head of State had ordered to promote it and achieve the objectives set for the next five-year term, especially that of doubling by 2014 the areas for growing organic crops.
The meeting examined the results scored in biological farming, which involves olive trees, large-scale farming, fruit trees and vegetables, as well as forests and pastures which helped tap an area of 285,000 hectares till late 2008.
The meeting also looked at incentives and mechanisms set up to boost this sector, increase its yield and ensure quality of its production and its compliance with international standards, particularly by strengthening efforts of training, guidance, research and follow-up of control and certification action.
To reach the targets set for the sector of organic farming and raise awareness about the health benefits of its products, the meeting decided the following measures:
* Increase from 5,000 to 10,000 dinars per year the ceiling of the annual subsidy dedicated to control and certification for producers, members of development groupings, co-operatives and professional groupings.
* Establish the "Week of Tunisian Organic Product," to be held each year.
* Stage promotional campaigns at home and abroad, support participation in international fairs and organise partnership meetings to make known Tunisian biological products.
* Conduct a study to devise a strategy for the promotion of organic products in targeted domestic and external markets.
* Work out a programme to make the most of biological products in the tourist sector.
* Create a national committee for planning, evaluation and follow-up of research works on organic farming.
* Broaden the experience of fields-schools network in major production areas.
* Develop the Regional Centre for Research in Horticulture and Organic Farming.
* Set up a cell tasked with biological products within the professional groupings of fruits, vegetables, red meat and dairy products.
The Head of State stressed the need to perfect materialisation and follow-up of these measures, especially regarding incentives, in such a manner as to promote organic farming. He laid emphasis on the need to raise awareness about the importance of biological agricultural products for health and environment, and its promising prospects in terms of exports.
Source: newsroom - meattradenewsdaily.co.uk
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