By Halim Ben Haj Salah* and Tarek Jarrahi Corresponding author: ingc@planet.tn

1. National Institute of Field Crops, Tunisia
Institution of Agriculture Research and Higher Education
Project “Enhancing Food Security in Arab Countries” International Center for Agricultural Research
in the Dry Areas
Halim Ben Haj Salah, Tarek Jarrahi
Institut National des Grandes Cultures, B.P. 120, 8170 Bousalem, Tunisia.
Introduction Irrigated Project Site Objectives
Food security is a strategic national objective and is related to increase wheat production.  Development and promotion of improved varieties
Capita consumption of wheat (around 220 kg/year/person) is the highest in the world.  Increase farmer income by using appropriate wheat management practices
Current Cereal Production:  Make farmers experts of wheat production in their fields and promote farmer-to farmer training
Average production of 2005-2010 period: 1,7 Millions tons  Enhancing capacity of national research systems through training of young scientists
Average wheat yield: 1.3 t/ha in rainfed area and 4.3 t/ha in irrigated area  Establishment of an effective partnership in wheat research that will provide a new generation of agricultural
Deficit of cereal balance: 51 % scientists
National Strategic objectives:
Reach self sufficiency in durum wheat production (1,6 Million tons) .
Arid climate
Average rainfall: 307 mm
Methodology
Ensure a minimal production of 1,0 million tons during unfavorable years through cultivation of wheat in irrigated and Total cereal area: 14 000 ha The activities implemented are chosen in consultation with farmer groups, local extensionists, and scientists. To
favorable areas. Irrigated cereal area: 4 500 ha achieve this, the project developed an innovative approach to accelerate dissemination and adoption of new
Increase irrigated wheat area to 130.000 ha and reach an average target yield of 6 t/ha. Number of irrigated area:19 technologies by developing the cluster dissemination approach based on establishing a leader and demonstration
The ICARDA Project “Enhancing Food Security in Arab Countries” activities in Tunisia were implemented at the Number of farmers : 1000 satellite farmers to disseminate innovations.
Governorate of Kairouan (county of Chebika). The aim of this project is to increase wheat yield for food security by Mean Cereal Yield: 4 t/ha Farmer-groups
dissemination technologies on-farm, with farmers, and for farmers.  Regular meetings in fields
 Leaders farmers disseminate innovations
 Discuss about the best crop management practices, then take
agro-economical decisions
 Dissemination recommended package at satellite fields
 Particular focus was given to mobile phone use that facilitated
communication between farmers and extension agents and to
assist on farm field operations and irrigation scheduling.
Model of technology transfer to private 2010/2011 2011/2012 2012/2013
irrigated areas Number of 12 132 220
Demonstration Fields
Results of dissemination and applied research activities
Dissemination activities
Wheat variety adaptation to irrigated areas Irrigation scheduling through water balance The integrated Fertilization management for wheat
Fig.1: Grain yield (T/ha) of wheat varieties at Leaders farmers N
8 Tensiometring map for warning W E
Rouissette
irrigation based on soil type and S
7 available water Pourtour
Jouaouda
Tension_Critique(cbar)
Elevation Range
38 - 48
6 48 - 58
Aouamria
58 - 68
68 - 78
Yield (T/ha)
Chebika ouest
78 - 88
5 88 - 98
98 - 108
108 - 118 Sidi ali ben salem
Abida
4 El Haouareb
Hammed
6.58
3 5.98 5.64 5.62
4.83 4 0 4 8 12 Kilometers
2
1 Fig. 5: Compared grain yield obtained using (IFM) and common farmers
0
fertiliser applications
8
Khiar Razzak Saragolla Maali Farmers
7
Technology transfer of improved technical package for high yielding 6
durum wheat varieties
Yield (T/ha)
5
Fig. 2: Grain yield (T/ha) of wheat at Satellite farmers Promoting Permanent Bed Planting and Adapting Local Conventional Seeder 4
8
3 6,04
7 4,71
2
6
1
Yield (T/ha)
5 0
4 Yield IFM Yield Farmers
3 5.99
4.63
2
1
0
Maali Farmers
Applied research activities
Testing and evaluating new wheat lines for late sowing date Testing foliar fertilizer for improving wheat production and quality Testing water saving technologies by using making decision tools
20 advanced lines (CIMMYT ) for High production area and “Karim” were assessed at 3 sowing date (15 November,15 Fig.6: Grain yield (T/ha) from foliar fertilizer
December and 15 January) for high grain yield potential in irrigated areas in the central of Tunisia
No foliar fertilizer foliar fertilizer
water amount Precipitation grain yield WUE
8
Treatment
(mm) (mm) t/ha (kg /m3)
7 Tensiometer 280 125 7.47 1.84
Farmers and technician have participated in the assessment of this nursery through the selection participatory activity
6
Penman 240 125 6.15 1.68
Class A ev.Pan 240 125 5.18 1.42
Yield (T/ha)
5
Evaluation of drip irrigation for wheat
4
6,92 Effect of the applied treatments on grain water use efficiency
3 6,27 6,45 6,32 6,67 6,27 6,13 6,50
5,68 5,97
water amount Precipitation grain yield in WUE
2 Treatment
(mm) (mm) t/ha (kg /m3)
1
Four new varieties were highly preferred by farmers for early maturing. These cultivars are often associated with greater 100 cm spacing 412 125 8.1 1.51
yield. However, late sowing appeared to be associated with greater yielding ability for irrigated trials. These two results 0
would imply that genotypes characterized by short vegetative growth cycle are sought and suited for irrigated areas. Early
50 cm spacing 238 125 7 1.97
Med Arbi Jarray Nacer Jhinaoui Youssef Rebeiai Med Jabbas Moy
sowing in these areas could favor lodging and grain yield might be reduced by terminal heat.
Capacity Building
Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Contact /Information
Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFSED)
ingc@planet.tn
Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED)
www.ingc.com.tn
OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID)