Assessing complementary synergies for integrated crop–livestock systems under conservation agriculture in Tunisian dryland farming systems

Published Date
January 04, 2023
Type
Journal Article
Assessing complementary synergies for integrated crop–livestock systems under conservation agriculture in Tunisian dryland farming systems
Authors:
Boubaker Dhehibi
Ayoub Fouzai, Aymen Frija, Mohamed Arbi Abdeladhim, Hatem Cheikh M'hamed, Hassen Ouerghemmi, Mourad Rekik

The aim of this paper is twofold. The first objective is to measure the technical efficiency of mixed crop-livestock (CL) smallholder producers operating under conservation agriculture systems in Tunisian rainfed areas. The second objective is to explore complementarities, synergies, and economies of diversification across the different production system components of these crop-livestock producers using the cross-partial derivative framework of output variables in the distance function. A simple random sampling process was employed to select and survey 59 CL smallholders operating under conservation agriculture. The collected data were analyzed using a stochastic input distance function in which synergies were estimated based on the second cross-partial derivative concept of output variables in the distance function. Results show that technical inefficiencies are significant in integrated crop-livestock systems, and there is evidence that economic diversification provides a productivity buffer against climate change threats. As a sustainable intensification strategy, this integrated system also offers a potential advantage. The results further contribute to the debate on crop diversification vs. specialization. Although an enhanced system integration could be a financially and ecologically viable option for mixed crop-livestock systems, more pathways for profitable and viable diversification of cereal-based or orchard-based systems remain to be explored.

Citation:
Dhehibi B, Fouzai A, Frija A, Adhim MA, M’hamed HC, Ouerghemmi H and Rekik M (2023) Assessing complementary synergies for integrated crop–livestock systems under conservation agriculture in Tunisian dryland farming systems. Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 6: 1022213. doi: 10. 3389/fsufs. 2022. 1022213.
Keywords:
technical efficiency
reduce inequality
integrated crop-livestock farming
climate adaptation and mitigation
environmental health and biodiversity
nutrition, health and food security
poverty reduction, livelihoods and jobs
gender equality, youth and social inclusion
economies of diversification
input distance function
barley
conservation agriculture
forage
oats
sheep
goats
vetches
beef cattle
wheats
fenugreek
goal 2 zero hunger
goal 17 partnerships for the goals
goal 12 responsible production and consumption
Goal 8 Decent work and economic growth
Goal 6 Clean water and sanitation
triticosecale