81267172-Innovative GAP Training Approach for Potato Production in Tunisia

The global program ‘Green Innovation Center in the agriculture and food sector’ is part of the special initiative ‘One World Without Hunger’ of the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The Tunisian component is one of the 16 country projects of the global program. The Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture, Hydraulic Resources and Fisheries (MARHP), the Agricultural Investment Promotion Agency (APIA) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) have agreed on the implementation of the Tunisian component, named ‘Innovations for Agriculture and Agro-Food’ (IAAA) aimed at strengthening the innovation system of the Tunisian agricultural and agro-food sector. The project operates in 7 governorates in the North-West and Central-West of Tunisia, namely: Jendouba, Beja, Siliana, Kef, Kasserine, Kairouan and Sidi Bouzid. The project works on the sustainable development of two value chains: potato and milk. For the potato value chain, the IAAA has established a project entitled ‘Innovative development of potato cultivation in the highland regions of Tunisia’. It is carried out in collaboration with the Potato and Artichoke Technical Centre (CTPTA) and APIA as well as the Regional Agricultural Development Commission/ Territorial Extension Cells (CRDA/CTV) in the different regions. Its objective is the systematic and sustainable introduction of the potato in the highland areas so that small producers can increase their income. The project is currently being implemented in Kef and Kasserine. For the potato sector, and especially for the extension system, there is a lack of information and technical skills of the producers as well as a communication difficulty. Despite the existence of technical skills at the central level and within the extension services, the level of information and technical skills of producers is still very limited. Communication difficulties persist in terms of the quality of messages and the transmission approach. In addition, the subjects of sustainability and profitability of the potato chain under uncertain climatic conditions are of great importance for all partners and actors in the chain. For this reason, the project wants to expand its activities in the potato sector by developing an andragogical training approach targeting small farmers through innovative training and agricultural advice.