Kaïs Saïed says dates are worth one dinar at the farm gate
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Webdo
Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed says a kilogram of dates is sold by some farmers for no more than one dinar, compared with more than ten dinars in some markets. At a meeting on 6 November, he also denounced speculation and obstacles to access to fertilisers and seeds, according to the Tunisian Presidency.
Tunisian President Kaïs Saïed said producers were selling a kilogram of dates for no more than one dinar, while consumers pay significantly more in markets. He raised these price differences at a meeting held on Friday 6 November 2026 at the Carthage Palace with Prime Minister Sarra Zaâfrani Zenzri, Interior Minister Khaled Nouri and Trade Minister Samir Abid, according to a statement from the Tunisian Presidency.
Farm-gate prices vary according to the varieties. According to data provided in September by the Regional Commissariat for Agricultural Development of Tozeur, they ranged from 800 millimes to one dinar per kilogram for dates other than Deglet Nour. For this variety, prices ranged from 1.500 to 2.800 dinars. In retail markets, some dates exceed ten dinars per kilogram.
For the 2026-2027 season, reference collection prices for exports were set at 3.100 dinars for first-category standard Deglet Nour, 4.500 dinars for first-category dates on the branch and 5.200 dinars for the Extra category. These prices depend on quality criteria and do not necessarily correspond to the amounts directly received by farmers. Kaïs Saïed also criticised obstacles to the distribution of fertilisers and seeds, which he considers harmful to producers and national production.
The meeting comes after the Tunisian president's call on 22 October to strengthen support for olive and date producers. This intervention continues his concerns about agricultural incomes and marketing channels, raised in his call for support for olive and date producers.
