Sustainable Goat Farming in Southeastern Tunisia: Challenges and Opportunities for Profitability

Rihab Day (), Aziza Mohamed-Brahmi, Fatma Aribi and Mohamed Jaouad
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Rihab Day: Research Laboratory: Support for the Sustainability of Agricultural Production in the Northwestern Region, Higher School of Agriculture of Kef, University of Jendouba, Le Kef 7119, Tunisia
Aziza Mohamed-Brahmi: Research Laboratory: Support for the Sustainability of Agricultural Production in the Northwestern Region, Higher School of Agriculture of Kef, University of Jendouba, Le Kef 7119, Tunisia
Fatma Aribi: Laboratory of Rural Economy and Society (LESOR), Arid Regions Institute of Medenine (IRA), Djorf Road Km 22.5, Medenine 4119, Tunisia
Mohamed Jaouad: Laboratory of Rural Economy and Society (LESOR), Arid Regions Institute of Medenine (IRA), Djorf Road Km 22.5, Medenine 4119, Tunisia

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 8, 1-25

Abstract: Goat farming represents a critical component of rural livelihoods, food security, and cultural heritage in southeastern Tunisia. This study adopts a multi-stakeholder approach to analyze the goat value chain in Tataouine, incorporating focus groups, semi-structured questionnaires, and direct observations with 80 farmers, 3 veterinarians, 13 butchers, and 100 consumers. The findings reveal strong local demand, with 72% of consumers purchasing goat meat and 66% consuming milk. However, significant inefficiencies exist, particularly a misalignment between production and market requirements: while 92% of butchers prefer fattened animals, only 16% of farmers engage in fattening practices. Women constitute 49% of dairy processors, yet face persistent resource constraints. Climate pressures exacerbate these challenges, with 80% of farmers reporting water scarcity and 93.8% observing pasture degradation. Three strategic interventions emerge as pivotal for sustainable development: targeted support for feed-efficient fattening techniques, establishment of women-led dairy processing collectives, and implementation of climate-resilient water management systems. These measures address core constraints while leveraging existing strengths of the production system. The study presents a transferable framework for livestock value chain analysis in arid regions, demonstrating how integrated approaches can enhance both economic viability and adaptive capacity while preserving traditional pastoral systems.

Keywords: goat farming; sustainability; value chain; socio-economic impact; southeastern Tunisia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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