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Characterization of dairy sheep farmingsystems in the region of Beja

Caractérisation des systèmes d’élevage ovin laitier dans la région de Béja

 



W. NASRI1, 2

I. MEKKI1

S. SMETI1

N. ATTI1

 

1University of Carthage, National Institute of Agronomic Research of Tunisia, Laboratory of Animal and Forage Productions, 2049 Ariana, Tunisia

2University of Carthage, National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia



Abstract – Dairy farming plays an important role in the region of Beja. In order to characterize the farming systems of Sicilo-Sarde ewes, a survey was carried out with about twenty breeders. Principal component analysis of variables essentially related to the breeding and feeding systems, as well as the herd and farm sizes identified three groups. Small farms (4.7 ha for 33 ewes) are characterized by late weaning (89 days) and traditional management based on natural grazing (300 days) with limited amounts of concentrate (326 g/ewe/day). The second group consisted in the growing farms, which are evolving in terms of herd (93 ewes) and farm (13.6 ha) sizes. Compared to the first group, the applied system is improved in terms of a shorter suckling period (73 days) and a more frequent use of forage species (183 days). The third group is represented by large farms characterized by high amounts of concentrate (800 g/ewe/day) and a frequent use of various forage species (205 days). Milk production was 0.55, 0.77 and 0.91 l/ewe/day for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd group, respectively. In general, the applied dairy farming systems has shown a certain evolution compared to previous studies, but improvements of several practices are still needed like practicing early weaning and summer or autumn mating season and increasing legumes proportions in ewes feed.

Key words: dairy ewes, feeding system, breeding system, farming system, typology.

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The socioeconomic development of Beni Khedache Some reflections for a case study

Le développement socioéconomique de Béni Khédache Quelques éléments de réflexions pour une étude de cas



NADIA OUNALLI1

RIADH BECHIR2

MONGI SGHAIER2



Institut National de Recherche Agronomique de Tunis, et à l’Institut des Régions Arides Médenine (IRA), Rue hedi Karray, 2049 Ariana.

2 Institut des Régions Arides de Médenine (IRA), Laboratoire LESOR Institut des Régions Arides Fjè, 4119 Médenine, Tunisie.

 

Abstract - The agricultural and rural development experienced in southern Tunisia, despite the weakness of natural resources and their fragility, was obtained thanks to public transfers to less-favored areas. This situation, which is still prolonged despite the adoption of a liberalization policy, has resulted in improved rural development indicators and some progress in meeting the needs of the population through national production. However, this policy has reached its ecological, financial, economic and social limits (Elloumi 2006, Ounalli 2014). The study and the analysis of the socio-economic situation of Béni Khédache proves this generic and current question of the Tunisian context. In this paper, it is a question of presenting the main features of the region, to identify the assets and the handicaps of development of a disadvantaged arid region of southeastern Tunisia. A field survey of 40 farmers in the Oued Oum Zessar region was carried out. Statistical analysis of socio-economic data was done using the SPSS software.

Keywords: Socio-economic analysis, rural development, impacts, evaluation

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Pest management knowledge and practices of grapevine farmers in northern of Tunisia

Diagnostic de la gestion phytosanitaire et des pratiques des vignerons au nord de la Tunisie

 

ALA BOUAGGA1

WIEM CHTIOUI2

BOUZID NASRAOUI1

HANÈNE CHAABANE1

 

1Laboratoire Bioagresseurs et Protection Intégrée en Agriculture, Département Santé Végétale et Environnement, National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia, 1082 Avenue Charles Nicolle, Tunis Tunisie, Université de Carthage

2 Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Bari, Ceglie, 9, 70010 Valenzano BA, Bari, Italy



Abstract - In order To evaluate phytosanitary practices in Tunisian vineyards, field surveys were conducted with 27 growers during three crop years (2015-2016-2017). Six governorates namely: Ben Arous, Nabeul, Bizerte, Zaghouan, Jendouba and Béjà, located in the north of Tunisia were visited. Chemical control is the only method used by growers in these regions, against the various pests (insects, mites and phytopathogenic fungi). The number of treatments varies between 10 and 24 applications / year. More than one hundred commercial preparations have been identified, with a dominance of fungicides compared to insecticides. About 76% of products used are registered on vine growing, but some are not allowed and removed from the market. In addition, non-compliance with the dosage (increase or decrease compared to the recommended dose) is observed on average in 30% of cases. No means of protection is worn by employees at the time of application. All of these bad practices can increase the risk of pesticide exposure. The treatment frequency index (FTI) was determined based on the treatment schedule provided by the manager, in order to measure the phytosanitary pressure exerted on the vine crop. The average value of the FTI varies between 29.3 and 80.1; Fungicide IFTs account for the largest share.

Key words: Frequency index, pesticides, risk, treatment, use, grapevine.

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Copyright

This article is published under license to Journal of New Sciences. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

CC BY 4.0