Sustainable and environmentally friendly agriculture is increasingly being promoted by farmers around the world. In Tunisia, permaculture is gaining popularity among small and neo-farmers who seek to create sustainable crops adapted to the constantly changing Tunisian environment. The objective is to guarantee food self-sufficiency on their scale while working to make it a profitable sector.
In northern Tunisia, farmer Amine Ben Abdallah opted for permaculture to ensure the sustainability of his cereal production, despite the episodes of drought hitting the region. By working on the soil, creating terraces to retain water and planting trees in a row, he managed to create an agro-ecological ecosystem that allows him to continue producing cereals, even when his neighbors, who practice conventional agriculture, see their yields fall due to soil erosion.
South of Tunis, Slim Zarroukl also decided to experiment with more environmentally friendly agriculture on his family land. Applying the principles of permaculture, he diversified his crops and created a multi-strata system, using forest trees to fix nitrogen in the soil and sheepskins to nourish and protect the soil. Thanks to these techniques, he hopes to be able to make a living from his farm by selling his products directly to consumers.
Permaculture has also found an echo within the Tunisian Permaculture Association, which trains people interested in this mode of agriculture free of charge. This helps promote this sustainable practice and make its benefits known to a wider audience.
Thus, permaculture is developing in Tunisia as a promising alternative for small farmers wishing to preserve the environment while ensuring their subsistence. This sustainable agriculture model offers a solution to the climatic and environmental challenges facing the country. Beyond food self-sufficiency, it also opens up economic prospects by allowing farmers to make a living from their farm. A winning bet for Tunisian agriculture which represents a major sector of the country’s economy.