Agricultural Technological and Institutional Innovations for Enhanced Adaptation to Environmental Change in North Africa

Nefzaoui, A.; Ketata, H.; Mourid, Mohammed El

doi:10.5772/27175

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Using locally available by-products, different formulas have been developed and tested by farmers; the global assessment is that the use of feed blocks resulted in increasing sheep production efficiency by 32% (Nefzaoui et al, 2008). Also, spineless cactus has been introduced in the target site and has been used as animal feed to fill the gap during drought years and dry seasons (Haddad, 2007, Nefzaoui, 2011b. In addition, new barley cultivars ("Rihane" and local accessions called Ardhaoui and Souihli) were selected by farmers and grown in demonstration fields.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Affecting Innovative Technologies Adoption by Livestock Holders in Arid Area of Tunisia

Dhraief¹,

Bedhiaf²,

Dhehibi

et al. 2019

New Medit

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Despite the efforts to enhance adoption of innovative technologies (IT) by the Tunisian Government through national and/or international development projects, the potential rate of adoption of these technologies has remained low among farmers. This study aims at shedding some light on the potential factors that influence IT adoption in the Tunisian arid areas. Technological, economic, institutional factors and human specific factors (social) are selected to be the determinants of agricultural technology adoption. A quantitative approach employing a cross-sectional design was used to gather data. Stratified random sampling was employed and a total of 200 small-scale farmers (100 adopters and 100 non-adopters) were sampled. Data analysis and assessment was done through descriptive and statistical inferential analysis, and econometric modeling using the binary logistic regression model. Empirical findings show that economic and socio-demographic factors such as farmer education, size of cattle flocks and off-farm income were statistically significant and had positive influence on technology adoption while age and farmer experience had significant and negative effects on IT adoption. The findings confirm the important role of institutional factors (being a member of an association, benefiting from extension services and source of technology knowledge) in the adoption decision of IT, particularly when such variables were found to be significant and positives. In contrast, labor and credit services do not significantly influence adoption of IT. Based on these results, Government should focus on educating young farmers with large cattle flock size and off-farm income to enhance the adoption of IT for livestock holders. It should also intensify training programs for farmers and for extension agents with the collaboration of the project managers and the involvement of the profession and the private sector. Finally, the open innovation strategy including all stakeholders during idea generation could be considered as a better way to decrease technology development costs and improve IT adoption.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors Affecting Innovative Technologies Adoption by Livestock Holders in Arid Area of Tunisia

Dhraief¹,

Bedhiaf²,

Dhehibi

et al. 2019

New Medit

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“…Local and regional land restoration can also be advanced through stabilising exposed soils that have been degraded and depleted of natural vegetation in recent years. Existing studies have highlighted the capacity of succulents, such as O. ficus‐indica , to grow in harsh and challenging environments, with their roots improving and rehabilitating wind‐ and rain‐eroded soils (Louhaichi et al, 2017; Nefzaoui et al, 2011, 2014; Nefzaoui & el Mourid, 2009). Thus, the potential for establishing succulent‐based cultivation could diversify and stabilise both environments and local economies that are precariously exposed to the shocks of livestock farming, as well as contributing to bio‐based industries such as nongridded energy (biogas) supplies in rural communities (Buckland & Thomas, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drought‐tolerant succulent plants as an alternative crop under future global warming scenarios in sub‐Saharan Africa

Buckland,

Thomas,

Jägermeyr

et al. 2023

GCB Bioenergy

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Globally, we are facing an emerging climate crisis, with impacts to be notably felt in semiarid regions across the world. Cultivation of drought‐adapted succulent plants has been suggested as a nature‐based solution that could: (i) reduce land degradation, (ii) increase agricultural diversification and provide both economic and environmentally sustainable income through derived bioproducts and bioenergy, (iii) help mitigate atmospheric CO2 emissions and (iv) increase soil sequestration of CO2. Identifying where succulents can grow and thrive is an important prerequisite for the advent of a sustainable alternative ‘bioeconomy’. Here, we first explore the viability of succulent cultivation in Africa under future climate projections to 2100 using species distribution modelling to identify climatic parameters of greatest importance and regions of environmental suitability. Minimum temperatures and temperature variability are shown to be key controls in defining the theoretical distribution of three succulent species explored, and under both current and future SSP5 8.5 projections, the conditions required for the growth of at least one of the species are met in most parts of sub‐Saharan Africa. These results are supplemented with an analysis of potentially available land for alternative succulent crop cultivation. In total, up to 1.5 billion ha could be considered ecophysiologically suitable and available for succulent cultivation due to projected declines in rangeland biomass and yields of traditional crops. These findings may serve to highlight new opportunities for farmers, governments and key stakeholders in the agriculture and energy sectors to invest in sustainable bioeconomic alternatives that deliver on environmental, social and economic goals.

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“…Margolis et al (1985) reported that cacti cultivation has clear advantages in soil and water conservation compared with conventional land use. Furthermore, contour planting of Opuntia has been used to rehabilitate marginal lands in Tunisia and Algeria at low cost (Nefzaoui et al, 2012). Soil physical properties and organic matter content are improved under these cacti planting and in the immediate adjacent areas, with an improvement in organic matter and nitrogen compared with non-treated fields (Louhaichi et al, 2017).…”

Section: Alleviating Soil Erosion and Phytoreme-diation By Edible Opuntiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Cactus as Crop Plant ― Physiological Features, Uses and Cultivation ―

Horibe

2021

Environmental Control in Biology

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Today, the stems of edible Opuntia are consumed as vegetables, cattle food, and processed food, in addition to being used for raw materials in cosmetics and medical supplies in various countries, including the Mediterranean, South America, the Middle East, North Africa and Asia, showing their wide adaptability to various climate zones ranging from arid, semiarid to temperate zones. In a time when global warming and population growth requires an urgent response, there is intense demands in crops like edible Opuntia, which are stress-resistant to extreme environments (e.g., high temperature, dryness) and can be grown in large volumes. Thus, Edible Opuntia have promising potential not only to become general crop consumed globally but also to serve as a model plant for deciphering the mechanisms of their special properties. However, their existence and their traits as crop are not well-known at the global level compared with other global crops. This review explains the physiological features, uses and cultivation technologies including soil and hydroponic culture of edible Opuntia with recent researches.

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Agricultural Technological and Institutional Innovations for Enhanced Adaptation to Environmental Change in North Africa

Cited by 6 publications

References 23 publications

Factors Affecting Innovative Technologies Adoption by Livestock Holders in Arid Area of Tunisia

Factors Affecting Innovative Technologies Adoption by Livestock Holders in Arid Area of Tunisia

Drought‐tolerant succulent plants as an alternative crop under future global warming scenarios in sub‐Saharan Africa

Cactus as Crop Plant ― Physiological Features, Uses and Cultivation ―

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