Tunis: The agricultural and agri-food sector has achieved a 97% coverage rate in 2023, Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries Abdelmonem Belati said. This rate was achieved thanks to the increase in revenues from olive oil (TND 3,813 million), dates (TND 790 million) and fishery products (TND 686 million), he added at a national conference on "Food Security and Climate Change" held on Monday in Tunis to mark the National Agriculture Day and the 60th anniversary of Agricultural Evacuation Day. Agricultural investments stood at TND 1,279 million in 2023 and compensation paid out during the 2022/2023 season by the Natural Disaster Compensation Fund rose TND 60.8 million to cover interventions on 110,000 ha, he added. According to him, in order to achieve food security and sovereignty "we have no choice but to redouble our efforts and use all available capacities to create wealth through the proper use and governance of human, financial and natural resources". He further pointed to the need to improve scientific research, promote the use of new technologies and spread best practices through training and agricultural extension services. Tghe miister also highlighted the importance of continuing to review agricultural policy, focusing on strategic crops and taking into account the water footprint of different crops. To this end, he indicated that the action plan put in place under the 2050 Water Strategic Study gives priority to the mobilisation of water resources by using non-conventional resources (desalination, etc.) and the recovery of treated water. Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse