CRP Dryland Systems Béni Khédache site

CRP Dryland Systems North Africa and West Asia

Annual Coordination and Planning Meeting

Béni Khédache-Sidi Bouzid site

Hotel Alhambra, Yasmine Hammamet, 17-18 November, 2014

Fetoui M., Abdeladhim M., Sghaier M., Licheheb N., Ouessar M.

POLICIES LAND CONSOLIDATION AND FRAGMENTATION

IN BENI KHEDACHE SITE

This research is based on the following facts:

1) The land use policies in Tunisia were accompanied, especially in

the dry lands, by profound changes which affected the social and

economic dynamics of local populations (sedentarization, privatization and

fragmentation of land, decline of pastoral activities and rangelands, agricultural

development, extension of irrigated perimeters and changes in uses of natural

resources).

2) The fragmentation of land, as consequence of land privatization

and land heritage, is considered as a brake on development

3) The decision of the Tunisian government to embark into a land

consolidation strategy, as a way to improve efficiency, equity, rural

development, food security and conservation of natural resources, is

not yet assessed.

1. RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND OBJECTIVES

Related to these conditions and in the framework of CRP1.1 project,

this work attempts to assess and understand how land

fragmentation and consolidation contribute to agricultural

productivity, sustainability of natural resources, rural heritage

and livelihoods.

Specific objectives of the work are:

- Study the history and the evolution of land use policies and

especially the land privatization in the south-east of Tunisia

-Assess the impacts of land privatization on actual production

systems in BK site

- Analyze the problems of land fragmentation and the differences in

significant benefits between small and big farms

- Assess and monitor the land consolidation experience in the study

zone and its impact on land productivity, livelihoods and the

sustainability of the production system in general

1. RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND OBJECTIVES

The methodological approach is based on :

Valorization of the previous research programs and projects

to analyse the land use policies and the major agro-pastoral

dynamics and the changes in production systems

WAHIA, JEFFARA, DESURVEY, LUPIS, AFROMAISON, etc.

Information taken directly from the study field

Basic survey : to characterize the production systems and the

differences between small and big farms in BK site : 127 households

Thematic survey: to assess the experience of land consolidation

in the south east : targeted group

2. METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH AND TOOLS

Meetings and workshops with local and development actors

to have information about the land status and evolution in the study

zone, management of the rangelands and private lands

Cartographic treatments and modeling

to build a cartographic support that enrich the analyzes of

production systems in the study area.

Local, regional and national statistics

Such as the national census of population

2. METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH AND TOOLS

ACTIVITIES 2014

B. Analyzing the evolution of land status in BK site

This study is carried out according to three time periods

corresponding to the major changes in land status (1901-1964,

1964-1974 and 1974-2014).

(meetings with key actors DAF, mapping)

History, lows, governance, etc., especially the land privatization

(documentation, previous research projects)

A. Presentation of land use policies on Tunisia

C. Assessment of the impacts of land status changes : major trends of evolution and characterization of the production systems

Socio-demographic characterization (population density, age,

scolarisation rate, activity rate)

Structure and stratification of the land property (land property,

heritage, average area by farm, number of plots by farm, etc.)

Land and farm management (agriculture strategies, crop choices,

practices)

Land productivity and crop production (by type of farms: 1 plot, 2

plots, etc.)

Income generation possibilities (diversification of economic

activities, contributions,)

(field investigation, 127 surveys)

in term of :

land and farm management, labor

land productivity

opportunities and income generation possibilities

D- Analyzing the problem of land fragmentation and differences in significant benefits between small and big farms

In the small farms: The major part of the

farm is allowed to agriculture (87% of the

area)

Great parts of big farms (43 %) : pastoral

vocation

In term of land and farm management

In the small farms: The agricultural

strategies and activities are less pronounced

(priority), farmers are less motivated to

practice agriculture

Despite of the area allowed to agriculture

(50% in big farms), farmers in this case are

much more motivated to practice agriculture

(because of facilities, material, access to

credits, etc.) so that they have agriculture as

principal activity

BUT :

87 80

50

67

58

43

12 18

43

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

< 2 ha 2-5 ha > 5 ha

Fruit trees (%)

cereals (%)

Rangelands (%)

45

55

100

59 49 58

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

< 2 ha 2-5 ha > 5 ha

% of households (principal activity = agriculture)

% of time allowed toagriculture

In term of land productivity and crop production

Small and big farms produce less of olive oil

(respectively 23 and 53 l/ha) than the medium

farms (67 l/ha),

The same constatation that the meduim

farms are more productive in cereals

Question : if medium farms are more

efficient in term of productivity (taking on

account the conditions and opportunities) ?

Important constatation which can help

decision in the land consolidation projects !

53,3 L/ha

67,2 L/ha

23,3 L/ha

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

< 2 ha 2-5 ha > 5 ha

Olive oil productivity (liters/ha)

0,7 qx/ha

1 qx/ha

0,4 qx/ha

0

0,2

0,4

0,6

0,8

1

1,2

< 2 ha 2-5 ha > 5 ha

Cereal productivity (qx/ha)

In term of income generation possibilities

The same constatation concerning

the income and this may be related to

non-farm activities and their

contribution in the income generation

in the case of medium farms

640

41

1267

780

47

1100

550

63

2100

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

Farm income (TND/ha)

Livestock income (TND/head)

Non-farm income (TND/ha)

< 2 ha

2-5 ha

> 5 ha

WORK PLAN

Action I: Assessing impact of land

fragmentation and differences in benefits with

big farms

-Finalization of data analysis

-Reporting

-Dissemination :publications, conferences, open days,

etc.

Action II: land consolidation plan in Tunisia

and Medenine and its impacts on agropastoral

systems in jeffara

Objective: understand how land consolidation experience in

Tunisia contributes to agricultural productivity, sustainability of

natural resources, rural heritage and livelihoods

Actions :

-Presentation of land consolidation project in Tunisia,

-Meeting with key actors,

-Field surveys

-Data analysis and modeling

- Reporting,

-Dissemination

WORK PLAN

THANK YOU