Deputy Bouthaina Ghanmi, representative of the Béja governorate in the Assembly of the Representatives of the People, announced, in an exclusive statement to Tunisie Numérique on Wednesday 14 October 2026, that the Tunisian Solidarity Bank (TSB) has decided to allocate loans of up to 20,000 dinars to small farmers, to help them finance the collection and storage of their date and olive harvests.
A financial support to ease the burden on farmers
Bouthaina Ghanmi explained that the operations of collecting and storing agricultural products represent additional financial burdens for smallholders, already facing several difficulties.
According to her, this financing facility should help ease part of these expenses and improve the conditions for preserving the harvests.
The deputy emphasised that this measure constitutes a response to certain concerns expressed by professionals in the agricultural sector.
Persistent difficulties in the agricultural sector
The parliamentarian recalled that one of her main priorities since the start of her mandate is to give voice to farmers, particularly those of smallholders.
She notably mentioned difficulties in fertilizer supply and the rise in production costs, which weigh on agricultural activities in several regions of the country.
Bouthaina Ghanmi specified that the deputies have been lobbying since the beginning of the legislature for an improvement in the working conditions of farmers and the development of the agricultural sector at the national level.
She also noted early signs of the state’s commitment to reforms aimed at addressing the concerns of professionals.
The Parliament welcomes the BTS initiative
The deputy expressed her satisfaction with the decision of the Tunisian Solidarity Bank, noting that this initiative was warmly welcomed within the Assembly of the Representatives of the People.
She also stressed the need to ensure the proper implementation of this measure so that it achieves the announced objectives and genuinely benefits the small farmers concerned.
The mechanism aims notably to facilitate the financing of the collection and storage operations of dates and olive oil, two important products of Tunisian agriculture.
