沙漠研究 19-1, 359- 362 (2009 )Journal of Arid Land Studies“Desert Technology IX ”
Refereed Paper

Dry Lands Development in Mediterranean Countries-Similarities between Tunisia and SpainMohamed Amir BOUZAIDA1, Luisa María FRUTOS MEJIAS2
Abstract: Most local Mediterranean regions are suffering from a very alarming depopulation
process. This problem has been treated depending on the characteristics of each country. The
regions most affected are deficient of solid development projects, with a rural and desertlike
character. The regions of Monegros (Spain) and Béni khédèch (Tunisia) can be very typicalcases where the agricultural sector represents the unique solution and alternative of localdevelopment.
In this paper we will bring up the similarities between the mentioned cases study in a
Mediterranean context in term of durability, focusing in there respective social welfare. The
results will allow the assessment and the comparison of the local development strategies ineach country.
Keywords: Depopulation, Dry lands, Durability, Local development, Mediterranean countries

1. Introduction
This paper presents a discussion treating the context of sustainable rural development inMediterranean countries, with two examples of rural development policies in the regional and local levels.
Some specific topics are discussed, such as natural resources, cultural patrimony and governance andinstitutions for sustainable rural development. We will try to verify: the enhancement of human and landresources, the involvement of local stakeholders, the grade of participative management, so on.
The land use of rural space and the management of natural resources in Mediterranean countries cannot
be carried out by merely extrapolating options developed in other ecological systems. The proposals andsolutions adopted in each situation ought to be based on an individualized analysis of the natural, economic andsocial components, following an integrating approach to reach this aim.
This study strives for analysing the changes occurred throughout the last decades in two Mediterranean regions:Monegros (Spain) and Béni khédèch (Tunisia) characterized not only by a notable aridity, but also by a greatfragility of the edaphical and vegetable components. In both of these regions the farming system was marked
by the co-existence of farming and pastoral system (rangeland). That’s the reason why Tunisia and Spain hadinitiated in the beginning of the sixteenths, many modifications in their respective land use, with very important
agrarian reforms: an intense privatization of old collective lands in Béni Khédèch, and transformations inirrigated lands in Monegros. As a consequence, an evolution towards a more intensified agro-pastoral system
was happened in both of these areas.
2. Materials and Methods
The methodology (Fig. 1) consists in adopting a model of local and sustainable development based
the importance of the agrarian reforms and its theoretical positive impact on terms of economy anddemography. Thus, we will try to check if there is a socio-economical benefit through these reforms.
To verify this hypothesis a consultation of previous studies about land use policies in Tunisia and inSpain, and concretely about agrarian reforms in arid areas, was achieved, as well as agricultural anddemographic censuses. Besides, we have completed this bibliographical work with many visits to thefields, to complete the quantitative information by a qualitative one through meetings, conversations andsurveys with farmers and with the population of the study areas.
3. Results and discussions
Both of the zones are suffering a constant and gradual decrease (Fig. 2), in their respective populationof 27% (1970-2003) in Monegros, and 7% (1994-2004) in Béni Khédèch, in spite of the improvement of1
2

Laboratoire d’Economie et Sociétés Rurales, Institut des Régions Arides, 4119 - Médenine – Tunisia
Departamento de Geografía y Ordenación del Territorio, Universidad de Zaragoza, 50009 - Zaragoza – Spain

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Importance of agrarianreforms

Economy++Demography

Sustainable and local development
Hypothesis

The agrarian reforms should engender changes in land uses, allowing the improving of farmers’
income; hoisting the well-being and making a brake to the exodus of these arid areas.

Fig. 1. Mythological scheme.
Demographic evolution
35000
30000

Population

25000
20000

Monegros

15000

Béni Khédèch

10000
5000
01970

1986

1996

2003

Years

Fig. 2. Comparison of demographic evolution in Monegros and Béni Khédèch (1970-2004).

some demographic indicators. However, it is necessary to underline that this exodus is less significant
than other neighbouring regions, as a result of agrarian reforms, dimming the exodus to other regions.
Consequently, we can affirm that the application of this kind of strategies did not encourage the total
cessation of neither the exodus nor to the demographic regressive process, and this, because of many reasons:3.1. The small size of the farms
After the application of the agrarian reforms, a process of absorption of the small farms by big
farmers took place, to increase their incomes. As a logic result, there has been an increase in the medium
size of farms. However, in spite of this increase, the major problem is stilling the undersized farms, being
under 20Ha (88% of farms in Béni Khédèch and nearly 50% in Monegros), as it shown in the following
figure (Fig. 3), causing not only real problems of profitability but also of viability.
3.2. The extensive character of the farming system
The most important crops existing in the study areas are basically herbaceous: cereals (wheat, rice, oat,barley and sorghum), forages (Lucerne), but also fruit tree (olive tree, almond tree). The extensive
character of these crops has encouraged the fact to consider farming as a secondary activity. Thisuselessness to dedicate completely to the farming had provoked a substantial decrease in active population
working in agriculture.

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Size of farms
50454035
30%

Monegros25

Béni Khédèch

2015
10
500*5

5*1010*20

20*50

>50

Ha

Fig. 3. Comparison of size of farms in Monegros and Béni KhédèchA), in 2004.
Evolution of agrarian active population
6050%

40
Monegros30

Béni Khédèch

201001981199120022005

Years

Fig. 4. The evolution of agrarian active population in Monegros and Béni Khédèch (1981-2004).

3.3. The decrease of the active agrarian population
The number of farmers decreased, passing from 24% to only 14% in Béni Khédèch (1984-2004) (Fig.
4). The same dynamics occurs in Monegros, passing from 52% to 28% (1981-2004). This regressive
tendency is due to several factors as: the abandonment of marginal and small farms, the increase of theagriculture part-time, administrative and financial difficulties to acquire new exploitation, the ageing of thefarmers and a total disinterest of new generations in farming activity.
3.4. Integration deficiency
There is a lack not only in the horizontal integration with breeding activity, but also in the vertical
integration through the agribusiness, with a total absence of agro-alimentary industries connected tofarming, preventing to improve the added value of agrarian production.
4. Conclusions
With the drought and the shortage water, agrarian reforms are a very important solution for farming
expansion. It could be a driving force to reach a sustainable development in these arid areas. In deed,
there has been an improvement in farmer’s income, crops diversification and in the agrarian productivity.

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Therefore, this kind of strategy, therefore, has contributed to getting better the economical revenue
profitability of farmers, ensuring an economic and a social consolidation and a better articulation of theserural areas, slowing down, furthermore the regressive demographic process.
It is important to mention that the success of these development policies depends on the capacity toattract and to retain active population. To this effect, the economical specialization, through training,
entrepreneurial capacity and the ability to associate are fundamental factors to achieve this aim.
Agrarian reform could be an interesting technique in rural and arid Mediterranean areas. Even so, itshould be accompanied by a territorial specialization and an adequate planning with a vertical integration(agro-industries) and horizontal (a better connection between livestock and crops).
Annotation
A) Regional size farms of Médenine
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