Assessing complementary synergies for integrated crop–livestock systems under conservation agriculture in Tunisian dryland farming systems

Abstract

The aim of this paper is twofold. The first objective is to measure the technical efficiency of mixed crop-livestock (CL) smallholder producers operating under conservation agriculture systems in Tunisian rainfed areas. The second objective is to explore complementarities, synergies, and economies of diversification across the different production system components of these crop-livestock producers using the cross-partial derivative framework of output variables in the distance function. A simple random sampling process was employed to select and survey 59 CL smallholders operating under conservation agriculture. The collected data were analyzed using a stochastic input distance function in which synergies were estimated based on the second cross-partial derivative concept of output variables in the distance function. Results show that technical inefficiencies are significant in integrated crop-livestock systems, and there is evidence that economic diversification provides a productivity buffer against climate change threats. As a sustainable intensification strategy, this integrated system also offers a potential advantage. The results further contribute to the debate on crop diversification vs. specialization. Although an enhanced system integration could be a financially and ecologically viable option for mixed crop-livestock systems, more pathways for profitable and viable diversification of cereal-based or orchard-based systems remain to be explored.

Conservation agriculture has no significant impact on sheep digestive parasitism

“…The environmental benefits of CONS A, especially regarding climate change and land preservation, are very high, and governments should encourage this type of agriculture to maintain the sustainability of agricultural activity and reduce its negative impact on the environment (6,26,27). As part of combining crops with livestock, particularly in semiarid areas, CONS A and sheep farming can be harmoniously associated (10,28).…”

“…This generates a balance or a mutual profile between crops and livestock populations (8). Besides, it was proven that there is an efficiency of crop-livestock production systems under CONS A with the guarantee of sustainable food security in Tunisian dry areas (9,10).…”