Tunisia launches 2026 to 2030 plan to rebuild livestock herd after years of drought
Decade long drought has reduced the national livestock herd by nearly 30% and tightened meat supplies.
TUNISIA – Tunisia has introduced a five-year programme to restore its livestock sector after prolonged drought sharply reduced cattle and small ruminant numbers, placing pressure on domestic meat production and raising livestock prices.
The Ministry of Agriculture unveiled the recovery strategy on July 2, outlining a roadmap covering the 2026 to 2030 period that focuses on rebuilding livestock populations, expanding forage resources, introducing digital livestock monitoring systems and strengthening animal health services.
To finance the programme, the government plans to combine funding from the national budget, the Agricultural Sector Competitiveness Development Fund and external financial partners.
The initiative builds on measures introduced under the 2025 Finance Law, which allocated 10 million Tunisian dinars (US$3.38 million) to support the recovery of the national cattle herd.
Half of the funding has been designated to strengthen the financial position of small-scale farmers, enabling them to access bank loans for purchasing breeding heifers.
The remaining allocation will finance subsidies for breeding purebred heifers and calves, with payments distributed at different stages of the production cycle from birth through to first calving to encourage long-term herd renewal.
Herd numbers decline after prolonged drought
The recovery plan follows several years of declining livestock numbers, with data from Tunisia’s National Institute of Statistics showing that the country’s combined cattle, sheep and goat population fell from almost 8.37 million head in 2016 to about 5.94 million head in 2022, representing a decline of nearly 30%.
Authorities attribute much of the decline to recurring drought, which reduced rainfall, limited pasture availability and lowered domestic forage production, forcing livestock producers to rely more heavily on imported feed.
Higher feed costs, rising global commodity prices and prolonged dry conditions have reduced farm profitability, prompting some producers to scale back operations, sell breeding animals or exit livestock production altogether.
Government officials have also identified livestock smuggling and the illegal slaughter of breeding females as additional factors contributing to slower herd replacement.
Improved rainfall during the 2025 to 2026 agricultural season has eased water shortages and created more favourable conditions for pasture growth, providing an opportunity to begin rebuilding livestock numbers.
The government hopes the programme will help stabilise supplies of animal products after years of tightening availability that have pushed prices higher, with data from the Office of Livestock and Pastures showing the average price of a ewe increased from between 240 and 300 Tunisian dinars in 2010 to nearly 2,500 Tunisian dinars (US$845.00) during the first half of 2026.
Domestic red meat production also declined by about 10% over the same period, falling from 122,700 metric tons in 2010 to around 110,800 metric tons in 2025, increasing reliance on imports as authorities seek to maintain supplies while working toward the long term recovery of the country’s livestock sector.
Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates
