Central Tunisia rural development : range development subproject

PES covers the period 6/81-5/84 and is based on site visits and interviews with TA staff, their counterparts, and Government of Tunisia (GOT) officials. Because the SP has been operative less than 2 years, many of its expected outputs have not yet been realized. However, the measurable outputs to date are quite impressive and generally exceed targets substantially, except for the number of hectares rested. This is due to a deliberate change enacted after a detailed plant inventory indicated that a major reseeding effort was necessary and would be more productive than a resting and rotational grazing program. Rangeland interventions - conducted on 3,735 ha at 6 sites in 2 provinces and including reseeding to perennials and to annuals, establishment of live seed reserves, and resting - overall have had a more than satisfactory success rate, despite serious drought conditions in 1983/84. In addition, some 150 new grass, legume, and shrub species have been tested; forage feed reserves of shrubs established; shade trees planted; veterinary and breeding services provided; seven water retention basins constructed; and extension campaigns undertaken. Short-term U.S. training is being provided, and 3 M.S. participants are to leave soon. Of 501 SP beneficiaries, a number are female farmer-stock raisers who are heads of households. One negative SP effect has been the farming of unsuitable land as an attempt to gain title to that land, a practice which could lead to serious erosion problems. The SP has demonstrated that the poorest farmer-holders are both unable and unwilling to risk changes required for improved range and livestock management; thus the SP, in requiring that 80% of beneficiaries be in the limited resource category, may be forced to include participants unable to actually benefit. Also, it is very difficult to organize private holders effectively for communal grazing of private holdings, especially if they are not part of a close farming group. The SP exemplifies effective implementation by a university contractor, with a well-trained staff working closely with competent counterparts. Extension for 3 years is recommended.