The Press — The Olive Harvest Campaign is Struggling to Take Off
The olive harvest campaign is struggling to take off in certain regions of Tunisia, such as Kasserine, with only 10% of olives harvested to date. This pace is described as "low and insufficient" by Mohamed Hassan Azhari, president of the Regional Union of Agriculture and Fisheries (Urap).
Factors Contributing to the Slow Pace
This slow pace is the result of a combination of factors: a decline in the selling price of olives, unpredictable weather, and above all, a lack of skilled labor. This deficit highlights a crucial reality for agriculture: the scarcity of labor, which is largely female.
The Crucial Role of Women in Agriculture
Women have always ensured the most demanding and meticulous tasks, from orchards to fields, guaranteeing the quality and continuity of harvests. They are the silent pillar of Tunisian agriculture, the soul of a vital sector for the rural economy and the country's food heritage.
The Disappearance of Women from the Fields
There is a discreet, almost invisible life in the fields for those who do not look. Each season, the earth waits, silent and patient, for its fruits to be picked, sorted, and transformed. Today, these hands are becoming rare.
The Aspirations of Young Women
Young women, who were once at the heart of the fields, now aspire to other horizons. Studies, careers, mobility, and the desire to build a personal future different from the traditional model are all factors that are increasingly driving women away from the fields and seasonal crops.
The Consequences of the Lack of Labor
And yet, without them, the crops suffer, the harvests wither, and the rhythm of the seasons becomes blurred. Agricultural labor is not just a simple tool; it is the living link between man and the earth. Every gesture counts: the way a fruit is picked to avoid damaging it, the care taken to sort the harvest, and the patience to observe perfect ripening.
The Limitations of Technology
This is not a mechanism that can be easily replaced by technology. Machines can lift, cut, and transport, but they cannot replace this sensitivity, intuition, and know-how passed down from generation to generation.
The Tension between Tradition and Modernity
The scarcity of this labor force highlights a deep tension between tradition and modernity. Women, who have long been the heart of the harvests, are seeking to pursue their studies, access new opportunities, and emancipate themselves in a world that offers more choices than a few decades ago.
The Need for a New Approach
This movement is positive, socially and culturally, but it poses a vital challenge for the agricultural sector, which remains largely dependent on this human force to ensure its harvests and maintain its quality.
Finding Solutions
In the face of this situation, it becomes urgent to rethink agricultural work. It's not just about mechanizing, but about inventing solutions that allow women and young people to reconcile their studies, personal aspirations, and commitment to the fields.
Preserving the Female Labor Force
This can be achieved through flexible seasonal models, adapted training programs, or technologies that alleviate the most laborious tasks without denaturing the link between man and the earth. Preserving this female labor force is preserving a living heritage. It's also ensuring that the fields continue to produce with quality, but also that agriculture retains its humanity.
The Future of Agriculture
Agriculture, at its core, does not live only on fertile soils or favorable climates. It lives on attentive hands, spirit, and heart. And today, these hands are precious, rare, and more indispensable than ever.
The Challenge Ahead
The challenge that lies before us is simple and vital: to continue growing our crops while growing the talents and ambitions of the women who have always been, and remain, the beating heart of our agriculture.
