Rural areas are certainly lucky for not having traditional welfare infrastructures

It is unfortunate to see our farmers give up on the good baskets made of alpha or wicker, in order to use those hideous plastic bags that choke nature and stick to it like a second skin.

That being said, rural areas are certainly lucky for not having traditional welfare infrastructures, whose misdeeds on the environment are well documented. However, it is necessary to raise the awareness of rural populations about the benefits of renewable energy, whether it’s solar, wind, or hydroelectric energy, etc., and encourage them to set up these energies by providing them with financial support. Governments should give a good example by adopting renewable energies in State institutions in rural areas, such as schools, barracks, administrative offices…

Awareness campaigns must focus on food security, being one of the most promising subjects related to environment.

In Tunisia, for example, the recent increases in the prices of some highly consumed foods are due mostly to environmental problems. For instance, the price of milk has increased for the third time in less than a year, due to the dissatisfaction of dairy farmers who can no longer bear the cost of the concentrated feed given to their cows.

Some farmers have even given up on farming and sold several heads of their livestock to buyers from a neighboring country. The recent increase in the price of milk is therefore meant to encourage these farmers to resume cattle breeding and milk production.

The increase in sugar prices is the result of increased costs of water for agricultural use per cubic meter. Sugar beet growers couldn’t manage their costs anymore, which led some of them to abandon this crop; hence the closure of a sugar plant. The only sugar refinery in operation currently cannot supply the local market.

Therefore, the State began to import sugar beet; and since the refining process takes place in Tunisia, the production cost has increased, thus leading to higher prices for consumers. A further increase in sugar prices is expected due to the decrease in global quantities available for consumption, since sugar is also used in fuel manufacturing.

Nevertheless, the rural population only consumes to live, thus giving nature the chance to renew itself.

Therefore, we wonder whether it is right – morally speaking – to shift responsibility to the rural populations and force them to improve their environmental conditions at the risk of threatening their livelihood.

It seems that rural populations are the first victims of the harm caused to nature by the urban and developed countries. It’s then the responsibility of the latter to repair what they destroyed.

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Anonymous About over 2 years ago

Amidst the national debate on the environment and sustainable development in Morocco, I am having a thought that is perfectly consistent with the opinion of Ms. Saloua Charfi, about having the rural population in a stranglehold between the necessity of meeting their survival needs and their responsibility in terms of natural resource management and environmental protection. A new consensus on a paradigm of societal development needs to be defined and become binding upon all parties regardless of their status. The problem is very complex in this regard and the examples are innumerable. As an example, alfa grass management in Morocco could have an effect that is not necessarily new, but rather more modern, more rational, “greener”, and generate more growth and income for people using it, within a context of a new national awareness about pollution and the need of ensuring the fairness and balance of inter-regional development. Another equally important example is the case of the agropastoral and mountainous Morocco that needs a new position in the Green Morocco Plan which is a real proactive strategy. In this regard, efforts of innovation and solidarity must converge in order to offer these areas a greater value and better chances for a sustainable living and a dignified life, given their great potential in terms of biodiversity and their added value to business, economic, social, cultural, and scientific activities. These areas call for the multiplication of projects for conserving water and soil. Abdelkader EL OTMANI.

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Anonymous About 2 months ago

It’s sad seeing farmers abandon willow baskets to use those ugly plastic bags that stifle nature, and stick to it like a second skin. Rural areas are certainly lucky for not having traditional infrastructure of social welfare, whose negative impacts on the environment are well known. However, it is extremely important to raise the awareness of rural residents about the benefits of renewable energy, whether it’s solar energy, wind power, or hydraulic energy, among others, and encourage them to adopt these energies by supporting them financially. Governments should lead by example in this area, by adopting renewable energy sources in state institutions in rural areas, such as schools, barracks, administrative offices… Awareness campaigns should focus on food security, as one of the most important topics related to the environment. In Tunisia, for example, the prices of many food items soared due to environmental issues. The price of milk increased for the third time in less than a year due to the resentment of dairy cow breeders who can no longer afford the cost of concentrated feed for their livestock. Some of these farmers abandoned breeding, and sold many of their cows to buyers from a neighboring country. Therefore, the recent increase of milk prices was an attempt to encourage livestock farmers to resume their activity and produce milk. The increase in sugar prices is due to the increased cost of a cubic meter of water used in agricultural activities. Some sugar beet growers can no longer cover their expenses, which prompted them to abandon this crop, and thus close a sugar factory. The only sugar refinery existing now cannot cover the demands of the local market. Thank you for this interesting topic, and may Allah reward the author.

Zawaya