The Department of Commerce decides to supply extra quantities of tomatoes

Minister of Commerce and Export Development Samir Abed announced before parliament that the ministry is seeking to supply additional quantities of fresh tomatoes to fill the deficit in supply in local markets, amid worsening shortage of material and rising prices.

Different markets are experiencing a crisis in the supply of tomatoes as a result of climate change and maintaining temperatures, as well as declining cultivated areas and rising agricultural production costs.

Minister of Commerce and Export Development Samir Abed had on 6 November reverted the shortage of tomatoes in local markets to a sharp decline in production due to factors and climate change.

The supply shortage was directly reflected on consumers after prices in retail markets jumped to nearly 6 dinars per kilogram, compared with one dinar recorded in earlier periods during the heyday of production.