(TAP) – The first online platform “Farmer to Farmer”, dedicated to distance learning and agricultural extension for farmers and fishermen was launched Thursday in Takelsa, Nabeul governorate.
This is a virtual space that will popularize good agricultural practices to increase the yield of the sector and preserve natural resources through new technologies and the development of scientific research results.
The announcement of the launch of this platform was made during a visit by acting Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries Mohamed Fadhel Kraïem, accompanied by U.S. Ambassador in Tunisia Donald Blome to the Center for Vocational Training in Agriculture in Takelsa.
The 30-month FARMER project, with a budget of five million dollars, granted by the U.S. Department of State aims to support the development of the agricultural sector in Tunisia through technical assistance to the Agency for Agricultural Extension and Training (French: AVFA).
It also provides for the modernization of 5 training institutions in agriculture and fisheries, namely those of Takelsa (Nabeul), Chott Meriem (Sousse), Hakim South (Jendouba), Sbeïtla (Kasserine) and Tabarka (Jendouba) and improving their attractiveness through the development of training services and distance advice and adoption of participatory governance of training and advisory devices both at the central and regional levels.
Agreements between the AVFA and private companies in Nabeul were signed on the occasion of the visit to adapt training to the needs of the agricultural profession, for a better integration of young graduates of the national agricultural vocational training system.
The Acting Minister of Agriculture expressed the hope that cooperation with the United States will be extended to other training institutions, expressing his appreciation for the results achieved under the FARMER project.
For his part, the U.S. ambassador noted that “the Takelsa centre is an exemplary model of synergy between farmers and small businesses working together to create economic development opportunities in Cape Bon.
“Our assistance programs currently support more than 2,000 agribusinesses and agricultural cooperatives nationwide. These efforts have increased revenues by approximately $150 million and created more than 8,000 new jobs since 2018.” he said.
Source: TAP News Agency