Tunisia invests US$4.4M to digitalize grain supply chain, boost efficiency

TUNISIA—The government of Tunisia, through the Cereals Office, has unveiled an investment of 6 million dinars (US$1.9 million) to digitalize the grain collection process.

This move, part of the government’s efforts to modernize its grain sector with a dual focus on digitalization and storage infrastructure expansion,  is expected to enhance efficiency and transparency across the country’s 200-grain collection centres.

Salwa Ben Hadid Zouari, President and CEO of the Cereals Office, disclosed this initiative during an interview with the Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) news agency on March 20.

She highlighted that the project aims to improve data management and optimize the supply chain, ensuring better coordination between collection centers and government agencies.

Further reinforcing these efforts, the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources, and Fisheries, in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, is allocating an additional US$2.5 million to digitalize the entire cereal supply chain, spanning from production to consumption.

“The Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries is also planning, in coordination with the Ministry of Commerce, the digitalization of the entire cereal sector [from production to consumption], with an investment of US$2.5 million ,” Zouari also revealed. 

This comprehensive approach seeks to enhance traceability, efficiency, and productivity within Tunisia’s critical grain sector.

Beyond digitalization, Tunisia is also focusing on boosting its grain storage capacity.

Recently, the Cereals Office announced plans to invest 205 million dinars (US$66 million) in constructing new grain silos by 2027. This investment seeks to increase the country’s grain storage capacity by 24%, raising it to 628,000 tonnes.

The new silos will be strategically located in Rades (40,000 tonnes), Sousse (58,000 tonnes), and Sfax (38,000 tonnes) to improve regional storage efficiency.

Additionally, the government has earmarked 143 million dinars (US$45 million) for renovating existing storage facilities, some of which date back to 1985. This upgrade will enhance the storage conditions of 206,000 tonnes of capacity, ensuring better grain preservation and reducing post-harvest losses.

These strategic investments come as Tunisia faces rising grain import volumes. According to data compiled by the National Observatory of Agriculture (Onagri), the North African country imported 4.1 million tonnes of cereals in 2024. Of this total, soft wheat led the way, accounting for 36.5% of purchases, followed by maize (27%), barley (19.2%) and durum wheat.

With global supply chain challenges and climate-related agricultural risks, Tunisia aims to improve its food security and reduce reliance on imports by strengthening its storage and supply chain infrastructure.

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