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Effect of Farm Size on Sustainability Dimensions: Case of Durum Wheat in Northern Tunisia

Author

Listed:
  • Zouhair Rached

    (National Institute of Agronomic Research of Tunisia (LER, INRAT), University of Carthage, Carthage 1054, Tunisia)

  • Ali Chebil

    (National Research Institute for Rural Engineering Water & Forestry (INRGREF), University of Carthage, Carthage 1054, Tunisia)

  • Chokri Thabet

    (Higher Agronomic Institute of Chott Meriem, University of Sousse, B.P. n° 47, Sousse 4042, Tunisia)

Abstract

The sustainability analysis of wheat farms is increasingly becoming interesting for the scientific community in order to help propose a production model ensuring food security and sustainability of agricultural production. This work aims to assess cereal farms’ sustainability in Northern Tunisia via analyzing the effect of farm size on sustainability dimensions. Toward this aim, the Farm Sustainability Indicators (IDEA) method and statistical tests (ANOVA, LSD) were used for the analysis of the obtained data from a representative sample consisting of 200 farms—located in the governorates of Beja, Jendouba and Bizerte—with different sizes (<5 ha; 5–20 ha and more than 20 ha). The IDEA method is built from three indicators of sustainability (environmental, social and economic) in agriculture. The results showed a very high variability in the sustainability scores of durum wheat farms. In fact, the scores relating to each sustainability dimension vary according to the farm size. Overall, the results highlight that small farms are the most economically vulnerable despite being friendly to the environment. However, large farms were relatively more viable, but less environmentally friendly.

Suggested Citation

  • Zouhair Rached & Ali Chebil & Chokri Thabet, 2022. "Effect of Farm Size on Sustainability Dimensions: Case of Durum Wheat in Northern Tunisia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2022:i:1:p:779-:d:1021910
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Patrik Mouron & Chiara Calabrese & Stève Breitenmoser & Simon Spycher & Robert Baur, 2016. "Sustainability Assessment of Plant Protection Strategies in Swiss Winter Wheat and Potato Production," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 6(1), pages 1-17, January.
    2. Tom Waas & Jean Hugé & Thomas Block & Tarah Wright & Francisco Benitez-Capistros & Aviel Verbruggen, 2014. "Sustainability Assessment and Indicators: Tools in a Decision-Making Strategy for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 6(9), pages 1-23, August.
    3. Christian Bux & Mariarosaria Lombardi & Erica Varese & Vera Amicarelli, 2022. "Economic and Environmental Assessment of Conventional versus Organic Durum Wheat Production in Southern Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-14, July.
    4. Tom Waas & Jean Huge & Thomas BLOCK & Tarah Wright & Francisco Javier Benitez Capistros & Aviel Verbruggen, 2014. "Sustainability assessment and indicators: Tools in a decision-making strategy for sustainable development," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/189410, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
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