Approved investments in the agricultural sector recorded, late in August 2023, a decline of 15.8% in number and 25.4% in value. They amounted to 1,696 investment operations worth 286 MD compared to 2,014 investment operations worth 383.2 MD, during the same period of the previous year, according to the latest statistics published , Wednesday, by the Agricultural Investment Promotion Agency (APIA). Compared to the 2016-2020 development plan, private agricultural investments decreased by 32.2% in number and 12.5% in value. These investments will help create 1,794 permanent jobs, compared to 2,142 during the same period in 2022. Regarding the sectors of activity, investments approved in the fishing sector increased by 16% to reach 39.3 MD. Two investment operations amounting to 6.9 MD linked to tuna fishing activity were approved. For aquaculture, 4 investment operations were approved for a value of 2.9 MD. APIA also said that approved investments destined to young people amounted, at the end of August 2023, to 293 investment operations worth 29 MD including 170 operations worth 17.3 MD dedicated to young women against 161 operations worth 18.6 MD, during the same period of 2022. The approved investments benefited from subsidies amounting to 82.5 MD, which represents 28.9% of the approved investment volume compared to 103.2 MD during the same period of 2022. The subsidy for the acquisition of agricultural equipment amounted to 32 MD, which represents 38.9% of the total approved subsidies. The same source indicated that the credit rate fell to the limit of 20%. The committees for granting benefits approved, at the end of August 2023, 26 land loans worth 4.4 MD compared to 34 loans worth 5.6 MD, during the same period of 2022. These loans will allow, according to APIA, the integration of 286 hectares of land into the economic cycle compared to 359 hectares during the same period of 2022. As for declared investments, APIA indicated that 3,875 investment operations worth 873.6 MD were declared, thus recording a drop of 6.7% in number and an increase of 8 .3% in value. Compared to the 2016-2020 development plan, declarations dropped by 23.8% in number and 3.4% in value.

Source: EN - Agence Tunis Afrique Presse