Tunisia: the carob tree, fruit of the future for the country's farmers?
Audio 02:23
The fruits of the carob tree.
© cc0 Pixabay / Hans Braxmeier
By: Matthias Raynal
6 mins
Near the town of Menzel Bourguiba, around Lake Bizerte, in northern Tunisia, a farmer, with the help of an association, has set out to plant one of the very first carob orchards. of the country with high hopes.
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From our correspondent in Tunis,
To the right of the road, an immense azure expanse: Lake Bizerte; to the left, fields scorched by the sun. Edouard Jean is a member of the association "Les Amis de Capte", which tries to act on agricultural practices. “
Here, farmers call everything that is pesticide 'medicine', and so there is a use that is a little unreasonable. We have to be aware of the long-term consequences, whether for the water, for the soil, or for the population as well,
”says Edouard Jean.
The solution could come from the carob tree, which is naturally resistant to disease.
“Les Amis de Capte” supports Chiheb Wali's project: the farmer has planted a test plot.
“
It's a very hardy, sturdy tree that grows everywhere.
There is no specific type of soil like for oranges or almond trees,
”he explains.
On this windswept hill, there is a tree every seven meters and seven meters between each line.
This is little.
The farmer claims a sustainable agriculture, "
anti-intensive
", he specifies.
“
A slight slope, a little sun, it's the Mediterranean in the middle of summer
!
There, we arrive at the plot which is seven hectares
, ”he says.
The carob tree, a virtuous tree
The carob tree contributes to the fight against soil erosion, it also saves a very precious natural resource in Tunisia.
“
A week ago, we irrigated, and we can already see the new leaves coming out.
So it is a tree that responds very, very quickly to the slightest amount of water, in times of drought,
”explains Chiheb Wali.
The carob tree could even help producers cope with rising temperatures, according to Edouard Jean.
“
In Tunisia, but as in the whole Mediterranean, climate change will force farmers to adapt their practices.
So water-intensive crops or very sensitive crops will become very complicated
.
"
Carob fruit seeds for export
The future of the carob tree is in one letter and three numbers.
E.410, an organic thickener made from the seeds of its fruits.
Fallen into oblivion in the 20th century, the tree is increasingly prized by the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries in particular.
“
The E.410 is not yet used here in Tunisia, so [the fruits] are more intended for export.
Demand is increasing every year, so there is still room to be made,
”says Chiheb Wali.
It remains to develop the sector, to structure it.
It is in its very beginnings in Tunisia.
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Tunisia
Economy Africa
Agriculture and Fishing