Tunisia reserves farmland for community enterprises
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Business News
Illustrative image · zeynep ışık · Pexels · Licence PexelsMinister Wajdi Hedhili says Tunisian community enterprises will have priority to lease state-owned farmland. Of 325 structures created, 97 were actually operating by the end of August 2026, according to Business News, which reported the announcement made on 6 November.
Tunisian Minister of State Domains and Land Affairs Wajdi Hedhili announced on Friday 6 November that community enterprises would be given priority to exploit state-owned farmland through lease contracts. The measure was presented during a hearing on his department’s budget as part of the 2027 finance bill.
An initial list comprises 38 farms spread across ten governorates, covering a total area of nearly 17,000 hectares. The ministry’s services have received applications to operate 24 of these estates, representing nearly 11,000 hectares, while several community enterprises had already signed lease contracts, according to Wajdi Hedhili.
The scheme notably covers farms located in Zaghouan, Siliana, Béja, Manouba, Nabeul, Jendouba, Le Kef, Kairouan, Médenine and Kébili. The initial list was announced on 30 March 2026.
The measure comes as 325 community enterprises have been created in Tunisia, but only 97 were actually operating by the end of August 2026, according to Business News. It also follows the announcement on 30 October of Tunisia’s intention to attract more agricultural investment from the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development (AAAID). AAAID agricultural investments
