Amidst a sweeping campaign to oversee the subsidized bread production and distribution sector, the president of the Bakeries Association, a federation encompassing numerous bakers, was apprehended on Thursday on suspicions of monopolistic practices and market speculation involving subsidized essentials.
Emphasizing the imperative of averting a recurring bread crisis, the president conveyed during a meeting with the head of the government and the ministers of Interior, Finance, and Commerce on Thursday evening. The past few weeks have witnessed lengthy queues forming outside bakeries due to a sectoral upheaval. Recent reports disclose that authorities confiscated 6,528 tons of subsidized products and 8.45 tons of edible salt during inspections at 15 flour mills.
In response to the scarcity of bread and price manipulation surrounding the symbolic 190 millimeters (equivalent to 0.06 Euros) subsidized baguette, authorities have directed subsidized flour quotas towards traditional bakeries totaling 3,737, leaving so-called modern bakeries, responsible for producing baguettes and specialty breads, at a disadvantage.
Amidst the discourse about battling speculators and the bread predicament, a pivotal question emerges: Is the flour supply adequate to meet the escalating demands? Many bakers voice grievances about the exceedingly restricted quotas given the surge in demand, compounded by Tunisia’s dependence on wheat imports, which account for nearly 80% of its needs. Faced with mounting challenges to meet financial obligations, the country struggles to settle its supplier dues. Emblematic of this crisis extending beyond bakeries, the presidency terminated the Director of the Grain Board earlier this week.
Regrettably, the bakery situation shows little improvement. Following a protracted strike starting August 1st, modern bakeries, starved of flour, have announced their resumption of sit-ins on Monday, August 21st, after a brief interlude for negotiations with the government. Meanwhile, traditional bakeries endeavor to address the soaring demand for subsidized bread.
As the Tunisian bread crisis persists, the confluence of economic and systemic factors underscores the need for a comprehensive strategy to ensure a stable and equitable supply of this vital staple.