The 5th Congress of Scientific Research and Agricultural Extension officials kicked off Monday in Gammarth (Tunis northern suburb). The two-day event is organised by the Arab Centre for the Study of Arid zones and Dry Lands (ACSAD).

The meeting held on the theme: "limiting and combating desertification in Arab countries," brings together managers, researchers and directors of agricultural scientific research institutions from Palestine, Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Kuwait, Iraq and Syria and Tunisia.

It will discuss ways to fight desertification in Arab countries where non-arable lands account for 66%.

"The agricultural extension system in Tunisia is experiencing serious difficulties due to the lack of financial and human resources,” said Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries Samir Taieb.

He pointed out that his department was seeking to consolidate the Agricultural Training and Extension Agency (French: AFVA) with skills and financial resources in order to strengthen extension for farmers, increase production and improve profitability.

 He said "the problem is not in the valorisation of research (...) but rather in the weakness of the agricultural extension system".

 ACSAD Director General Rafik Ben Salah said the conference aims to foster joint co-operation between Arab countries in the fight against desertification.

He said Tunisia has used ACSAD programmes in the discovery of high-productivity, drought- and disease-resistant cereal varieties. Similarly, Tunisia benefited from programmes to improve livestock production.

Salah indicated that ACSAD is currently conducting research on production of animal varieties that feed on red weevils to protect production systems in oases in the Arab region, highlighting the action of the centre which will continue partnership with Tunisia represented by the Institute of Arid Regions.

source: TAP