Improving production and water productivity of olive trees in Tunisia: pruning as an answer!

Tunisia _ January 2022_ The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations in Tunisia supported the efforts of the Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture to reach the objective of improving water productivity for a strategic crop in Tunisia: the olive tree. Within the framework of the regional project “Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for water efficiency/productivity and water sustainability in the NENA region”, a partnership has been established with the National Institute of Olive Trees in order to initiate research work and dissemination of good agricultural practices to improve the productivity of olive trees. Through this partnership, many meetings were organized during January 2022 with farmers’ field schools participants to teach and show them the safe method for pruning and proper tools to be used. Those field days has been organized in collaboration with the regional agricultural development offices.

Olive trees, a strategic crop for the country

More than a strong historical and cultural symbol in the country, the olive tree is economic wealth and a valuable source of employment in rural areas. Today, olive growing occupies more than 30% of the country's cultivable land. It employs 60% of the agricultural workforce and represents 45% of agricultural exports.

The sector faces a number of challenges including the impact of climate change, the abandonment of agricultural activity by young people but also poor agricultural practices due to a loss of ancestral traditions and the migration of the culture to new fertile territories in the north of the country, pushed by episodes of drought and lack of production facilities.

The olive institute team whom undertook the field work, in collaboration with the agricultural production General Directorate, have highlighted a number of incorrect agricultural practices, particularly with regard to the irrigation schedule, the fight against weeds, the detection and treatment of diseases, fertilization and especially the pruning of the olive tree.

Pruning is a regular activity that allows the olive tree to regenerate, promoting better light penetration in the foliage and air circulation, and ensuring good pollination. This process could be tedious if done in an arbitrary and uncontrolled way.

Pruning capacity building in the center and the north of the country

In order to improve the dissemination of good agricultural practices among farmers, farmers’ field schools have been implemented in the north and center of the country, thus creating spaces for exchange and learning by doing. Within the framework of these schools, days of demonstration of the good method of pruning have been organized.

"Pruning is an art, explained Mr. Omri, master pruner at the olive Institute, an art built on observation and the use of good equipment. I generally advise farmers to look at the tree from a distance and to set up a plan to eliminate the branches that have given the previous season. While preserving the young shoots."

For Mr. Mohieddine Ksantini, researcher at the olive Institute specialized in olive diseases "pruning is a crucial operation for the good health of the tree, its productivity and quality of olive oil. A good pruning technique avoids the spread of diseases and fungi in the plot, especially through automatic cleaning of pruning tools and protection of wounds. "For water, a scarce resource in the country especially in the center and south of the country, this operation reduces the water consumption of the tree and increases the efficiency of irrigation because the food will be allocated to the productive branches of the tree." He added.

More than 60 farmers participated to the training sessions. A guide and posters will be produced soon.

This activity is carried out within the framework of the regional project "Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for water efficiency/productivity and water sustainability in the Near East and North African Countries", funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.