In Barghouthia, which is located in the region of Kebili, farmers do not have sufficient financial suppor for organic farming conversion to improve the added value of their dates, purchase fruit trees for improving the oasis biodiversity and install water collection basins for irrigation. In this case, the problem is the low cost-effectiveness of organic agriculture. Indeed, this production system requires higher investments and generates lower productivity than conventional agriculture, which exceeds the financial capacity of small farmers. In addition, the instability of income provided by their production, the poor exploitation and the lack of commercialization have resulted in a financially and socially degrading situation for producers in Bargouthia. Therefore there was an urgent need especially to valorise their date production and to increase its added value.

The main partners in this project were the 'Fairtrade Labelling Organizations' (FLO) south organic company and "El Itkane" group. Based on the quantity of dates on branches, farmers benefited from an economic compensation from FLO association. The value of this bonus is 0.15€/Kg and an additional bonus is granted by the exporter who refunds the total quantity harvested in order to encourage farmers. Farmers received financial assistance from south organic company to purchase the organic agricultural inputs (composts, mosquito nets, etc..) and fruit trees (olive trees, vines, fig trees) to improve oasis biodiversity, also to set up water collection basins in 5 farms.

After the 'Fairtrade Labelling Organizations' (FLO) certification, a minimum price has been set for the kilogram of dates (1850 millimes/kg), which is equivalent to 0.98€ /Kg. The totality of the financial compensation is allocated to the farmers' group to improve the living conditions and the financial and social situation of the farmers and their families. In fact, the first year's financial compensation was used to build a primary school for children in Bargouthia. Subsequently, the bonus was used by the group to improve the quality of dates and the productivity of palm trees. This allowed the purchase of compost to improve soil fertility, mosquito nets to fight against the date moth, power tillers, working tools, and the installation of a localized irrigation system in 16 farms including valves for all farmers. As a result of this project, a second organic farmers' group was formed in Hezoua (Groupement El Gars Ettayeb). This group includes 58 farmers. New date products, such as pitted dates, date syrup, date paste and date sugar, were developed. These products are mainly produced from the dates waste, which can be valorised and are very popular in Swiss and German markets.

The aim of this project is to improve organic dates' economic value in Bargouthia, through a fairtrade label. In the early 2000s, a group of ten farmers producing organic dates was formed within the community of Bargouthia called "El Itkane". South Organic encouraged farmers to form "El Itkane" group. In 2005, this group was made up of 50 farmers covering a total area of 35 hectares. In 2011, El Itkane group and "South Organic" applied for the Fairtrade Labelling Organizations (FLO) certificate. South Organic company has bought the entire production and has provided premiums for the producers of dates. The El Itkane group provided production of dates, the maintenance of oasis biodiversity and the good use of premiums to improve the community's conditions. A minimum price per kilogram of dates was set and premiums were given to farmers according to the quantity of dates on branches. An additional premium is given by the exporter who reimburses the total quantity picked in order to encourage farmers.