The oases of Nefzaoua have a Saharan climate characterized by low rainfall, high temperatures and aridity accentuated by a long dry season. The agricultural sector, which concerns 26% of the active population, has gradually been oriented towards date palm varietal monoculture, which remains the main means of subsistence in certain areas of the region. But this balance is seriously threatened. The gradual degradation of resources (soil, water and biomass), the loss of traditional knowledge and biodiversity due to specialization are jeopardizing the living conditions of many farmers in the region. Honey production is one of the important traditional activities of the oases in southern Tunisia. Many farmers practice beekeeping to diversify their sources of income, but despite everything, it remains very marginal in the oases of Nefzaoua. Aware of the importance of this activity, some farmers in the region are working to develop and spread this practice.

In general, oasis beekeepers in the Nefzaoua region acquire their know-how through contacts with people who already have experience in this field and also by contacting establishments providing professional agricultural training such as the “Cellule Territoriale de Vulgarisation” (CTV) and the “Office de l’Elévage et Pâturage” (OEP) in order to be accompanied in the conduct of their beekeeping activities.

Thanks to the progressive development of their activities, the two beekeepers grew from a wild hive to 30 and 50 hives, respectively. However, the quantity of honey sold on the market remains undetermined due to the retail marketing of the product by the beekeepers themselves. The two farmers have confirmed that up to 35 kg of honey can be obtained from a well-managed hive. They are also helped by the women of their families during the honey extraction activities. The strong points of this initiative: 1) dissemination of beekeeping practices while raising awareness of the benefits of these activities 2) Tunisian honeys are highly sought after thanks to a favorable climate and very diversified vegetation 3) impacts on the environment and on humans are large for a limited space. Bees bring a very important environmental added value. By choosing plantations adapted to the soil, the bees themselves adapt to the environmental constraints of the particularly sensitive climate in this region 4) beekeeping contributes to the agricultural economy, not only through honey production but also by pollinating crops 5) reintegration of women into agricultural work.