Specialists in Tunisia’s agricultural sector are calling for the establishment of a national Important National Agricultural Heritage Systems (SIPAN) certificate.
This move is seen as a crucial step towards achieving international recognition for the country’s traditional farming practices by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations.
Experts and stakeholders from the agricultural community have urged the creation of this national SIPAN certificate. Tunisia aims to position its traditional agricultural systems on the international stage while simultaneously strengthening social cohesion and local resilience to the impacts of climate change. This national recognition would serve as a preliminary phase for the eventual inclusion of these systems on the global list of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), a program supported by the FAO.
Valuing traditional knowledge and women’s role
During a seminar held at the Tunisian Union of Agriculture and Fisheries (UTAP), experts highlighted the importance of promoting traditional know-how within Tunisian agriculture. Speakers emphasized that SIPAN certification would help identify systems with high biodiversity and resilience potential, integrating them into a framework for conservation and sustainable development.
A particular emphasis was placed on the central role of rural women in preserving and transmitting traditional agricultural practices. These women are actively involved in safeguarding local seeds, producing natural fertilizers, and implementing sustainable water management techniques, thereby contributing significantly to food security and ecosystem preservation.
The FAO has been supporting this approach through its GIAHS initiative, which was launched in Tunisia nearly four years ago. The organization continues to urge governments to build the capacities of women farmers and artisans, recognizing them as vital guardians of biological diversity and food heritage.
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