Analysis of actors' visions of Tunisian urban and peri-urban agriculture in order to propose a training program

Abstract

The issue of urban and peri-urban agriculture is topical in Tunisia today as it is becoming a concern for territorial policies and agri-urban strategies in terms of environment management and sustainability. Nevertheless, this multidisciplinary theme still shows imprecisions and tautologies in terminologies and acceptability of this hybrid agricultural and urban production field. It is in this context that this work is undertaken to identify the perception of urban and peri-urban agriculture based on the various visions of different actors, public, semi-public and private. Surveys conducted directly (face to face) with a representative population of 85'actors reveal a dualism characterized by both "distancing"and "non-distancing"in the different qualifications of urban and peri-urban agriculture. It appears that professionalization and visibility of this sector are both reduced. However, all the surveyed people converge in affirming the interest of urban and peri-urban agriculture, but in a vision supporting a productivity agriculture. For 58% of public actors, urban and peri-urban agriculture is useful, but in a vision of a residual agricultural production; 30% of public actors consider it as in transition of latency, stock, or even as a land reserve. Semi-public actors show an anchoring in the socio-spatial dimensions and this, in an environmentalist agricultural landscape logic. This qualification is identified among three quarters of semi-public actors, and 50% for public actors. Another qualification is expressed by private actors, who are rather green town planning enthusiasts, as more than two thirds of them favor agro-ecological mediation services, green trades and the procurement of quality and proximity agricultural products.