Why shouldn't we be like the farmers on the plain?: Aspirations and limits of a fastgrowing small- holder agriculture in Central Tunisia
« Et si on faisait comme ceux de la plaine ? » : aspirations et limites d'une petite agriculture dynamique en Tunisie centrale
Résumé
Tunisian history has produced what is perceived as strong dualism between small-and large-scale farming. After being marginalized by productivist agricultural policies, smallholder farming is now supported, especially since the 2011 revolution. With rural impoverishment and the exodus and unemployment of young graduates, the future of small-scale local farming has become a real social and political issue in Tunisia. In this article, we use a case study in central Tunisia to question the usual dichotomy between small-holder farming and productive agriculture. By analyzing the discourse of local youth from Haffouz, we illustrate their expectations and examine what prevents them from adopting their ideal agricultural model. Young people are often presented as passive, but our results showed rather their strong vitality. Even if they do hope for support from the State, they mainly rely on their own strategies to develop their farms.