8,251 tonnes of early geothermal crops were exported from the governorate of Gabes up until late January 2024, compared with only 6,000 tonnes the previous season.The export of agricultural produce from geothermal greenhouses, notably tomatoes, is proceeding under optimum conditions, an official from the Regional Authority for Commissariat for Agricultural Development (CRDA) told TAP, pointing out that this production is generated from 162 hectares of greenhouses.According to CRDA estimates, the annual production of early vegetables is expected to reach nearly 25,000 tonnes, up on last year's figure of 24,000 tonnes.The development of the early fruit and vegetables sector in Gabes, with projects centred in El Hamma, El Hamma-Ouest and El Hicha (Ouedhref), is due to the use of modern technologies and the ability of certain projects to ensure production throughout the seasons, he explained.Source: Agence Tunis Afrique PresseThe government has put in place guidelines that will assist in fast-tracking the issuance of passports and ID cards.In its commitment to improve the welfare of Kenyans in all aspects of life, the Government has undertaken to meet its promises that bind it to a covenant of socio-political inclusion and economic empowerment of all citizens, and respond to the people's needs, which include faster processing of these vital documents.Speaking during a press briefing at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi, the Government Spokesperson, Dr. Isaac Mwaura, said the covenant put the government on its toes and true to its commitment, through the Bottom-up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).While acknowledging Kenya's complaints of delayed issuance of passports, Dr. Mwaura confirmed that the problem is being addressed, attributing its persistence to delayed supply and slow delivery by suppliers of the 34-page passport booklets, which normally goes for Sh. 4,550.He disclosed that the d ocuments are usually printed outside the country for security reasons, leaving only the applicant's Bio-data page to be printed locally upon application.However, Dr. Mwaura reaffirmed that a consignment of the booklets has been sourced and will land in the country soon, and the problem will be a thing of the past.'In the meantime, those with urgent needs for a passport are advised to apply for the 50-page passports, which are in plenty,' he advised.On the issuance of National IDs, Dr. Mwaura said that the Government is aware of the problem of acquiring identity cards by eligible youths, which has been caused by a Court Order, suspending the production of the 3rd generation Identity Cards, pending an appeal by the Government.The Government Spokesperson, further revealed that 600,000 applications for the cards are pending at the civil registration offices countrywide, even as some other 684,000 IDs lie uncollected by the applicants across the country.He assured the public that once the appeal is grant ed, the government will embark on massive production of the vital identification documents with the aim of clearing the backlog within the shortest time possible.'We appeal to those who have yet to collect their documents to do so in order to avoid inconveniences in their official, as well as private transactions,' said Dr. Mwaura.Source: Kenya News Agency