Good intensions and hard realities: Achievements and challenges in agricultural extension systems in Tunisia
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Boubaker Thabet, Boubaker Dhehibi, Shinan Kassam, Aden A. Aw-Hassan. (31/12/2015). Good intensions and hard realities: Achievements and challenges in agricultural extension systems in Tunisia. International Journal of Agricultural Extension, 3 (3), pp. 209-216.
Abstract
The purpose set for this study was to assess the proficiency of the agricultural extension in Tunisia based on
secondary information and interactions with key stakeholders involved in the extension information chain. These
discussions and interactions indicates that organizational structure the agricultural extension system of Tunisia
(AEST) has been in existence for decades and is quite elaborate. It is impressive in its coverage of functions, regions
and activities. It is also commendable for the quantity of extension material, both written and audio-visual, that it uses
to convey messages to farmers. While elaborate in its administrative structure, the AEST is however elementary in its
conceptual nature and suffers from a number of limitations and constraints that are inherent to the nature of the
agricultural activity itself, namely rainfall dependence, marketing channels functioning and power, the scattered
nature of farms and their limited size; all negatively affecting its expected profitability and therefore its economic
viability. Consequently, the derived demand for extension service is limited, localized, restrained and mostly public
incentive induced. The objectives to privatize the AEST and induce private participation and partnership in it have
been set for decades, to date the supply of extension messages are typically of the top-down nature and based mostly
on technical recipes; i.e., public administration set and lacking information on socioeconomic considerations that
could provide farmers with viable alternative options and help reduce the risk and uncertainty they are constantly
facing. They also lack flexibility regarding the diversity of farmers and farming conditions. Improving the performance
of extension services in Tunisia is essential if policy makers would be successful in designing ways, using modern
tools, measures and instruments for relaxing the constraints that limit the profitability and overall attractiveness of
the agricultural work and investment. This dialectic nature rests on many technical, institutional and social
considerations and constraints that do not change rapidly over time.
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Author(s) ORCID(s)
Dhehibi, Boubaker https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3854-6669
Kassam, Shinan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7218-2243
Aw-Hassan, Aden A. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9236-4949
Kassam, Shinan https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7218-2243
Aw-Hassan, Aden A. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9236-4949