Tunis — President of the Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fisheries (UTAP) Ahmed Hnider Jarallah said his meeting, on Friday afternoon, with Interim Prime Minister Ali Larayedh discussed the difficulties faced at present by farmers and the urgent measures they require.

These difficulties pertain, particularly, to debt, the situation of public lands, amendment to the agricultural investment code and revision of the fuel premium, the UTAP president was quoted as saying by a Prime Ministry statement released Friday.

Hnider Jarallah said the meeting also focused on the performance of some essential sectors such as cereals and meat as well as the need to involve UTAP in issues related to the fight against uncontrolled importation and smuggling, the statement added.

The President of UTAP said he had informed the Prime Minister of preparations for the organisation in Tunisia of the Central Board and the extraordinary congress of the Arab Farmers Union due next April and the Farmers' Fair scheduled for the end of November 2013.

The meeting was attended by Minister to the Prime Minister Noureddine Bhiri and Minister of Agriculture Mohamed Ben Salem.