R'jim Mâatoug

1. HISTORIC OUTLINE
2. THE PROJECT’S ZONE
3. PRESENTATION OF THE PROJECT
4. THE PROJECT FIRST SLICE
5. PROGRAM OF REHABILITATION AND SUPPORT FOR THE 1st SLICE
6. THE PROJECT SECOND SLICE
7. THE PROJECT REACHED OBJECTIVES
8. PERSPECTIVES
9. ANNEX

1 - HISTORIC OUTLINE :

The desert character which contained Rjim Maâtoug's region could not allow a source of life. The area was frequented by a nomad population.

Since the 70s of previous century, a very important groundwater in the western South of Tunisia was discovered (common resources with Algeria and Libya, and covering 1000000 km2). A such discovery activated an operation of experiment through the realization of three drillings in 1984 which allowed to highlight 300 hectares (ha) of palm trees plantations in Rjim Maâtoug's zone and «Matrouha».

This experience which was realized by appropriate means of the Tunisian government and which aimed at the settlement of the border zone's population, gave a full satisfaction.

Since the change of November 7, 1987 and once the Socioeconomic study was elaborated within the framework of a guiding plan for the valuation of the waters of the South and through a global vision of the country’s development, the great project of development of Rjim Maâtoug aiming at the development of 2500 ha of palm trees plantations was thrown launched.

The realization of this project was confided to the Office of Development of Rjim Maâtoug (ODRM), one of the Establishments of The Ministry of Defence.

2 - THE PROJECT’S ZONE :

    2.1- Location :

•  Governorate : «Kebili»
  
  
• Region : Nefzaoua
  
  
• Delegation : «El-Faouar»
  
  
• On both sides of the road Rjim Maâtoug - Matrouha
  
  
• In 120 km on the West of the city of «Kebili», between the great oriental erg and «Chott Djerid».
  

2.2- Natural characteristics :

• Climate : Continental Saharan type
  
  
• Sand wind : 100 days / year with sirocco
  
  
• Average rainfall : less than 100 mm / year
  
  
• Average temperature : 21°C with extremes of 55 °C in summer (in the shadow) and - 7°C in winter (at night)
  
  
• Soil : sandy
  
  
• Water resources : the quota of Tunisia in this zone is 2000 liters by second (l/s). A such debit is enough to create 2500 ha of palm trees
  
  

3 -PRESENTATION OF THE PROJECT :

2500 ha of desert ground were highlighted by means of the plantation of palm trees, to attribute them to the farmers at the rate of 1.5 ha by beneficiary with a rural housing.

3.1 - The project’s Objectives :

• Fighting against the desertification by the creation of a green cordon between the great oriental erg and «Chott Djerid»
  
  
• Fixing the nomad population by improving their life conditions
  
  
• Creating new jobs
  
  
• Easing the old oases
  
  
• Increasing the productions of the dates «Deglet Nour» of 20000 tons.
  

3.2 - The realization phases :

• Experimental phase of 300 ha in «Rjim Maâtoug» and «Matrouha» ( 1984-1987 )
  
  
• First slice of 1152 ha : (1990-2001)
  
  
• Second slice of 1008 ha : (2002-2009)
  
  

4 - THE PROJECT FIRST SLICE :

4.1 - Object :

4.2 - Cost and Financing :

• Tunisia : 10 000 000 D
  
  
• European Union : 15 000 000 D
  
  
• Italy : 7 000 000 D
  
  

4.3 - Realizations :

• Creation of 17 drillings
  
  
• Hydraulic organization of 1152 ha (irrigation and drainage)
  
  
• Plantation of 1152 ha
  
  
• Protection of 1152 ha by the creation of 480 km of dry palms fences
  
  
• Creation of 120 ha of forested bands
  
  
• Creation of 25 km of agricultural track
  
  
• Construction of :
  
  

  • 770 rural housings (Nasr village and Ferdaous village)
  • 2 mosques
  • 2 primary schools
  • 1 school
  • 2 advice Centers
  • 1 Moorish bath
  • 1 training centre for the rural girl

• Supply of the project zone in electricity through an electric line : 94 km
  
  
• Tarred road connecting «Rjim Maâtoug» with «El-Faouar» : 70 km
  
  

4.4 - The beneficiaries : :

• 728 beneficiaries of farmer's small area (1.5 ha)
  
  
• 09 beneficiaries of engineer's small area (4.5 - 6 ha)
  
  

5 -PROGRAM OF REHABILITATION AND SUPPORT FOR THE 1st SLICE :

         Further to the estimate of the first slice, a program of rehabilitation and support was set up :

5.1 - Common program :

• Regeneration of 16 drillings
  
  
• Placing of a water economy network over 1152 ha
  
  
• Maintenance of the main networks of irrigation and drainage
  
  
• Placing of a popularization cell
  
  

5.2 - At the small areas level :

• Replacement of dead refusals
  
  
• Protection of the small areas
  
  
• Operations of levelling and backfilling
  
  
• Maintenance of the secondary networks
  
  
• Supply of inputs
  
  

5.3 - At the assignees level :

• Insure a minimal income to the assignees thanks to a monthly premium according to the degree of entrance in production of the small area and for the respect for the contract's clauses.
  
  

5.4 - At the ODRM level :

• Institute of the Dry Regions
  
  
• National Institute of Agronomic Searches
  
  
• Institute of Searches on the Palm Tree
  
  
• Office of the Breeding
  
  
• Establish of the Olive Tree
  
  

5.5 - At the associative activities level :

• Construction of 4 premises for the associations of collective interest
  
  
• City toll of a bottom of movement for every association of collective interest
  
  
• Training's days organization in aid of the farmers and AIC members
  
  
• Approach of the administrative departments to the local population
  
  

6 -THE PROJECT SECOND SLICE :

6.1 -Object :

• Creation of 1008 ha of palm trees : 672 small areas of 1.5 ha with construction of housing and all the necessary infrastructures.
  
  
• The distribution of the small area from the plantation to a temporary assignee, according to a contract and well defined choice criteria. And this counterpart 7 years (date in that plantations become productive).
  
  

6.2 -Cost and Financing :        Cooperation Agreement between the Tunisian Republic and Italy : 2002 - 2009

• Estimative Cost (42 300 000 D) :
  
  
  • Tunisia : 22 980 000 D
  • Italy : 19 320 000 D

6.3 -Improvements brought to the second slice :

a. At the procedures level :

• Creation of a Tuniso-Italian mixed committee, charged of : oversee, estimate the set of the project activities and approve the program and the annual budget
  
  
• Fixation of the assignees choice criteria aiming at a better valuation of the small area
  
  
• Adoption of a support program for the assignees during 7 years, with a follow-up / estimate and assistance to the assignees
  

b.At technical level :

• Approach of villages with regard to oases
  
  
• Intensification of the protection of oases and small areas
  
  
• Increase of the plantation density
  
  
• Adoption of an irrigation network allowing a water economy
  
  
• Improvement of housings : covered surface, conception and quality
  

6.4 - Realizations :

• Creation of 07 drillings
  
  
• Organization and placing of irrigation network on 504 ha
  
  
• Plantation of 504 ha
  
  
• Creation of 25 km of agricultural track
  
  
• Creation of 240 km of protection by fences in dry palms
  
  
• Construction of :
  
  • 286 rural housings for the assignees
  • 01 primary school
  • 01 advice center
  • A pit of a public market
  • 01 rural center for the young people
    

6.5 - The beneficiaries :

• 163 common assignees : 1.5 ha / assignee
  
  
• 86 graduate assignees (higher education) : 3 ha / assignee
  
  

7 -THE PROJECT REACHED OBJECTIVES :

• Creation of a green cordon on a length of 25 km; real barrier against the advanced of the desert
• Creation of income's permanent sources for the local population and improvement of life's conditions for about 1500 beneficiaries (6000 inhabitants)
• Creation of an economical dynamics (commitment of the assigned budgets and entrance of small areas to production)
• Increase of the production (dates, fruits, vegetables, feeds, meats …)

8 -PERSPECTIVES :

• Project durability for a better management of water resources
  
  
• Diversification of products essentially those that can be exported : Biologic products, Fruits, Vegetables, Feeds, Meats …
  

• Valuation of the drainage waters
  
  
• Encouragement of the deprived service companies
  
  

1. ANNEXE 01
   
   
2. ANNEXE 02
   
   
3. ANNEXE 03
   
   
4. ANNEXE 04
   
   
5. ANNEXE 05

1 - ANNEXE 01:COMPOSITION OF THE FIRST SLICE’S SMALL AREA

1. Shape and dimension of the small area : rectangle of 165m / 90m

2. Plantation :

• "Deglet Nour" : 139 feet


• Common variety : 16 feet
  
  
• Male variety : 4 feet
  
  

3. Water resources : 01 drilling / unity of 72 ha with an exploitation debit of 60 l/s (a continuous fictitious debit of 0,8 l / s / ha)

4. Irrigation network :   a PVC canal (? 160) on the median of the small area (160 meters) provided with 9 irrigation grips

5.Protection :

• Internal and bordering protection : by fence in dry palm of the small area
  
  
• External protection of the oasis totality : with the barbed wire to prevent the access of animals
  
  

6. small area Allocation : a 1.5 ha small area is attributed to beneficiary after 5 years of its plantation

7. Works chargeable to the beneficiary after allocation :

• the small area's Levelling
  
• The intensification of the protection and plantations
• Improvement of the small area’s Irrigation
• The diversification of associated cultures
  
  

back to annexe

2 - ANNEXE 02:COMPOSITION OF THE SECOND SLICE’S SMALL AREA

1. Shape and dimension of the small area : rectangle of 165m / 90m

2.Plantation :

• "Deglet Nour" : 220 feet
  
  
• Common variety : 80 feet
  
  
• Male variety : 8 feet
  
  

3. Water resources : 01 drilling / unity of 72 ha with an exploitation debit of 60 l/s (a continuous fictitious debit of 0,8 l / s / ha)

4. Irrigation network : a three teeth's Fork of PVC canal (? 160) on the median of the small area (160 meters) provided with 23 irrigation grips

5. Protection :

• Internal protection (intensified protection) : Small area is shared in 6 parts protected by dry palms strengthened by cemented posts every 6 meters
  
  
• External protection of the oasis totality : with the barbed wire to prevent the access of animals
  
  

6. Small area Allocation : the small area is assigned from its plantation according to choice criteria and contract conditions

7.Works chargeable to the beneficiary after allocation :

• Diversification of associated cultures and introduction of the breeding

8.Support and training :

During 7 years the assignee profits by a support program, a training and follow-up according to the contract conditions

back to annexe

3 - ANNEXE 03:THE SUPPORT STATION

         Support Station covers a surface of 10 ha. It is considered as a training center and popularization for the totality agriculture, with the aim of making sensitive the beneficiaries to better value oasis system in the set by introducing with the palm tree; the fruit trees, the cultures of feed and breeding.

The station's mission :

• Training's days organization in the beneficiaries profile (agricultural techniques and associated cultures choices)
• Introduction of other cultures and animals on a trial basis to select the varieties which adapt themselves best. And it in association with the agronomic searches institutes such as the Dry Regions Institute, the Office of the Breeding …)
• Follow-up and study of the cultures diseases, sensitization's days organization, prevention's days and fight's days.

back to annex

4 - ANNEXE 04:CONDITIONS OF A SMALL AREA'S ATTRIBUTION

         Demands are not considered in case of :

• Age : less than 18 years and upper in 55 years
  
  
• Property of a small area in the project’s zone
  
  
• To be not agricultural civil servant
  
  
• Not commitment of fixations in the project’s zone
  
  
•  Not decisive social inquiry
  
  

Choice Criteria :

Conditions	Points	Maximum of points
1. Origin : «Rjim Maâtoug» «El-Faouar» Governorate of «Kebili»	20 15 10	20
2.Agricultural training :		50
Upper training :
Engineer and +	50
Upper engineer	45
Agricultural/secondary training :
Sanctioned by a diploma	40
Without diploma	35
Training center diploma	30
Agricultural profession without diploma	20
Without agricultural training	00
3. family status :		15
Married	15
Bachelor	10
4. Age :		15
Between 18 and 35 years	15
Between 36 and 45 years	10
Between 46 and 55 years	05
Total		100

Application conditions : 

• Only the candidate who has obtained 60 points at least can profit by a small area
  
  
• Beneficiary's origin is verified by a certificate delivered by local authorities
  
  
• Agricultural training is conditioned by the presentation of the diploma's certificate
  
  
• The future beneficiaries pass by a psycho - technical test
  
  
• The beneficiary will be considered as temporary assignee only after signature of the of contract conditions
  
  

Allocation Commission : 

• The Governor of «Kebili» : Commission President
  
  
• The General manager of the ODRM : member
  
  
• The Delegate of «El-Faouar» : member
  
  
• The Regional Commission of Agricultural Development of «Kebili» : member
  
  
• The Regional Director of Land Cases : member
  
  
• The Regional Director of Social Cases : member
  
  
• The Regional President of the Farmers Union : member
  
  
• The Leader Service of Studies - Governorate of Kebili : member
  

back to annexe

5 - ANNEXE 05:CONTRACT CONDITIONS
         TO PROFIT BY THE SUPPORT PROGRAM

The assignee promises in :

ARTICLE 1 :To irrigate the totality of the small area according to the water tour which will be established by the ODRM and the Grouping with Collective Interest
ARTICLE 2 : To insure all the cultural operations, to look well after the palm plantation, according to a calendar fixed by the ODRM.
ARTICLE 3 : To Set up fodder and market garden cultures (the 1/3 of the small area)
ARTICLE 4 : To Value the fertilizer in the small area by respecting deposits and recommendations proposed by the ODRM
ARTICLE 5 : To Work in narrow collaboration with the ODRM by respecting the defined work program :

• Taking into account technical recommendations of the Popularizer
  
• Informing the ODRM of all the statistical data which concern small area
  

ARTICLE 6 : To Keep all the plantations and the hydraulic equipments in good condition
ARTICLE 7 : To Inform the ODRM of all the technical difficulties or the phyto-sanitary problems which can take place at the level of plantations or of livestock
ARTICLE 8 : To inform the ODRM a week before the harvest, in case of the desire for a help for marketing of products of the small area
ARTICLE 9 :To inform the ODRM in case of introduction of new cultures or other types of breeding except the proposed program
ARTICLE 10 : To Facilitate the task of the ODRM every time that it considers useful to cremate or to remove a plantation which presents a danger for the rest of the palm plantation;
ARTICLE 11 : To participate in fight against the insects, devastating and all the possible diseases
ARTICLE 12 : Allow the ODRM to control attributed awarded small area
ARTICLE 13 : To Participate in the programs of training and popularization organized in aid of the assignees
ARTICLE 14 :An annual premium of encouragement will be granted to the three better assignees of every unity of 72 ha, on the basis of the obtained annual note :

1st price : the sum of monthly premiums obtained during the year
2nd price : 50 % of the sum of monthly premiums obtained during the year
3rd price : 25 % of the sum of monthly premiums obtained during the year

back to annexe