Environmental agricultural practices in the Ziban palm groves: Should we choose between yield and sustainability?

Abstract

Since antiquity, with transhumant breeding, the cultivation of the date palm has been the main agricultural vector around which social and economic activities are articulated in oasis regions. The conduct of this culture is guided by a specific and complex technical itinerary. The objective of the present study aims to identify and characterize the main sustainable agricultural practices within the palm groves of the Ziban in south-eastern Algeria and the sensitivity of date palm farmers to environmental practices as well as their degree of adaptation. Our study is based on face-to-face surveys conducted among 50 producers among 10 date palm areas in the region. It brings to light that despite the production developments, date palm farming in this region remains dominated by extensive and traditional agriculture, either due to a lack of means, knowledge, or environmental commitment. As a result, several sustainable practices remain widely shared in the majority of palm groves. Similarly, it appears that several larger and newly established producers are committed to these new practices which have various objectives in particular, to protect the environment, and to sustain the culture and the quality of the products.