This document summarizes research on land policies and fragmentation in the Béni Khédache site in Tunisia. It finds that land privatization led to fragmentation that hinders development. While Tunisia aims to consolidate land to boost productivity and livelihoods, the impacts are unclear. The research aims to assess how fragmentation and consolidation influence agriculture, resources, heritage and incomes. Preliminary findings show medium farms are most productive and generate the most income, indicating consolidation may be beneficial if it emulates medium land holdings. Future work will further analyze impacts and Tunisia's land consolidation experiences to inform policies.

1. CRP Dryland Systems Béni Khédache site
CRP Dryland Systems North Africa and West Asia
Annual Coordination and Planning Meeting
Béni Khédache-Sidi Bouzid site
Hotel Alhambra, Yasmine Hammamet, 17-18 November, 2014
Fetoui M., Abdeladhim M., Sghaier M., Licheheb N., Ouessar M.
POLICIES
LAND CONSOLIDATION AND FRAGMENTATION
IN BENI KHEDACHE SITE

2. This research is based on the following facts:
1) The land use policies in Tunisia were accompanied, especially in
the dry lands, by profound changes which affected the social and
economic dynamics of local populations (sedentarization, privatization and
fragmentation of land, decline of pastoral activities and rangelands, agricultural
development, extension of irrigated perimeters and changes in uses of natural
resources).
2) The fragmentation of land, as consequence of land privatization
and land heritage, is considered as a brake on development
3) The decision of the Tunisian government to embark into a land
consolidation strategy, as a way to improve efficiency, equity, rural
development, food security and conservation of natural resources, is
not yet assessed.
1. RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND OBJECTIVES

3. Related to these conditions and in the framework of CRP1.1 project,
this work attempts to assess and understand how land
fragmentation and consolidation contribute to agricultural
productivity, sustainability of natural resources, rural heritage
and livelihoods.
Specific objectives of the work are:
- Study the history and the evolution of land use policies and
especially the land privatization in the south-east of Tunisia
-Assess the impacts of land privatization on actual production
systems in BK site
- Analyze the problems of land fragmentation and the differences in
significant benefits between small and big farms
- Assess and monitor the land consolidation experience in the study
zone and its impact on land productivity, livelihoods and the
sustainability of the production system in general
1. RESEARCH QUESTIONS AND OBJECTIVES

4. The methodological approach is based on :
 Valorization of the previous research programs and projects
 to analyse the land use policies and the major agro-pastoral
dynamics and the changes in production systems
WAHIA, JEFFARA, DESURVEY, LUPIS, AFROMAISON, etc.
 Information taken directly from the study field
Basic survey : to characterize the production systems and the
differences between small and big farms in BK site : 127 households
 Thematic survey: to assess the experience of land consolidation
in the south east : targeted group
2. METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH AND TOOLS

5.  Meetings and workshops with local and development actors
 to have information about the land status and evolution in the study
zone, management of the rangelands and private lands
 Cartographic treatments and modeling
to build a cartographic support that enrich the analyzes of
production systems in the study area.
 Local, regional and national statistics
 Such as the national census of population
2. METHODOLOGICAL APPROACH AND TOOLS

6. ACTIVITIES 2014
B. Analyzing the evolution of land status in BK site
This study is carried out according to three time periods
corresponding to the major changes in land status (1901-1964,
1964-1974 and 1974-2014).
(meetings with key actors DAF, mapping)
History, lows, governance, etc., especially the land privatization
(documentation, previous research projects)
A. Presentation of land use policies on Tunisia

7. C. Assessment of the impacts of land status changes :
major trends of evolution and characterization of the
production systems
Socio-demographic characterization (population density, age,
scolarisation rate, activity rate)
Structure and stratification of the land property (land property,
heritage, average area by farm, number of plots by farm, etc.)
Land and farm management (agriculture strategies, crop choices,
practices)
Land productivity and crop production (by type of farms: 1 plot, 2
plots, etc.)
Income generation possibilities (diversification of economic
activities, contributions,)
(field investigation, 127 surveys)

8.  in term of :
 land and farm management, labor
 land productivity
 opportunities and income generation possibilities
D- Analyzing the problem of land fragmentation and
differences in significant benefits between small and
big farms

9.  In the small farms: The major part of the
farm is allowed to agriculture (87% of the
area)
 Great parts of big farms (43 %) : pastoral
vocation
 In term of land and farm management
 In the small farms: The agricultural
strategies and activities are less pronounced
(priority), farmers are less motivated to
practice agriculture
 Despite of the area allowed to agriculture
(50% in big farms), farmers in this case are
much more motivated to practice agriculture
(because of facilities, material, access to
credits, etc.) so that they have agriculture as
principal activity
BUT :
87
80
50
67
58
43
12
18
43
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
< 2 ha 2-5 ha > 5 ha
Fruit trees (%)
cereals (%)
Rangelands (%)
45
55
100
59 49 58
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
< 2 ha 2-5 ha > 5 ha
% of households
(principal activity
= agriculture)
% of time allowed
toagriculture

10.  In term of land productivity and crop production
 Small and big farms produce less of olive oil
(respectively 23 and 53 l/ha) than the medium
farms (67 l/ha),
The same constatation that the meduim
farms are more productive in cereals
Question : if medium farms are more
efficient in term of productivity (taking on
account the conditions and opportunities) ?
 Important constatation which can help
decision in the land consolidation projects !
53,3 L/ha
67,2 L/ha
23,3 L/ha
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
< 2 ha 2-5 ha > 5 ha
Olive oil
productivity
(liters/ha)
0,7 qx/ha
1 qx/ha
0,4 qx/ha
0
0,2
0,4
0,6
0,8
1
1,2
< 2 ha 2-5 ha > 5 ha
Cereal
productivity
(qx/ha)

11.  In term of income generation possibilities
The same constatation concerning
the income and this may be related to
non-farm activities and their
contribution in the income generation
in the case of medium farms
640
41
1267
780
47
1100
550
63
2100
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
Farm income
(TND/ha)
Livestock income
(TND/head)
Non-farm income
(TND/ha)
< 2 ha
2-5 ha
> 5 ha

12. WORK PLAN
Action I: Assessing impact of land
fragmentation and differences in benefits with
big farms
-Finalization of data analysis
-Reporting
-Dissemination :publications, conferences, open days,
etc.

13. Action II: land consolidation plan in Tunisia
and Medenine and its impacts on agropastoral
systems in jeffara
Objective: understand how land consolidation experience in
Tunisia contributes to agricultural productivity, sustainability of
natural resources, rural heritage and livelihoods
Actions :
-Presentation of land consolidation project in Tunisia,
-Meeting with key actors,
-Field surveys
-Data analysis and modeling
- Reporting,
-Dissemination
WORK PLAN

14. THANK YOU