Oases in Tunisia: Food Sovereignty Under Threat – Global Challenges, Climate Change, and Local Fellahin Resistance

With the rise of neoliberal development policies and the modernization drive pursued during the Green Revolution, Tunisia's agricultural system has undergone a profound transformation. The relationship between farmers, nature, and food production has been compromised and shifted towards an industrial orientation. Moreover, these changes are closely interconnected with another global phenomenon, namely the advancing risks associated with climate change, which are already altering agricultural production and disproportionately affecting rural communities and traditional ecosystems such as those found in the oases. Specifically, the interplay between agro-industrial and water policies and the risks related to climate change—such as decreased and increasingly irregular rainfall, rising temperatures, and prolonged drought periods—has dramatically impacted and reshaped the Oases territory and production. However, despite these challenges posed by the interconnectedness of the issues mentioned above and the consequent effects on land and agricultural work, the Oases systems have always represented poles and examples of resistance, through the propagation and preservation of their local knowledge and the importance of social capital.

This paper aims to explore and document the balance of oasis ecosystems and the agriculture of its fellahin, focusing specifically on the Oases of Tameghza, Chbika, Mides, and Cheninni, where we have conducted extensive field research. It will highlight current challenges and their impacts on the ground and food production. Additionally, it will seek to demonstrate how, by drawing on local knowledge, social capital, and traditional practices, oasis farmers have shown their ability to adapt and resist in the face of adversity. This resistance serves as a testament to the importance of preserving and supporting traditional agricultural systems, not only for their ecological value but also for their role in sustaining rural livelihoods and communities and ensuring food security.