got interested in the opportunity of producing their own concentrate
and asked him to purchase ingredients for them. Also one of the
innovator's neighbors told us that he was considering starting his own
production in the near future, based on the same formula (that the
innovator shared with him).
4.2.3. Dairy farmers' cooperative
The initiative for creating a dairy farmers' cooperative in El Brahmi is
generally attributed to three farmers. Two of themare close friends and
former state technicians (CoP3), while the third one belongs to CoP2.
They all have wide networks of contacts through participating in
activities organized for dairy farmers on a national level. Having seen
well-ran cooperatives during their travels abroad, they became
advocates of farmers' cooperation.
There are several other actors who got involved in the project when
the initiators were looking for support. The Regional Commissary for
Agricultural Development office (CRDA) has a special two-person division
dealing with the question of farmers' organization. Promoting
farmers' cooperatives is a policy of the state. One of the CRDA agents
drafted a business plan for the future El Brahmi cooperative, based on
very rough cost estimates. The CRDA also offered to give the cooperative
an old hangar in El Brahmi to be used as a cooperative's warehouse. In
addition, the OEP and INGC are also in favor of the project, seeing it as
an opportunity to reach larger number of farmers with their extension
activities. Another actor on board is the Tunisian Agricultural Bank; a
special account for the future cooperative is already open; preferential
credits are available for cooperatives.
As the projectwas on-going, during our presence in the field,we had
an opportunity to directly observe its different events.We participated
in a meeting of the leaders of cooperative projects from different
areas, held in the CRDA regional office in Jendouba, where also an
OEP representative was present. The observation revealed problems
concerning the standards of interaction between different actors.
While CRDA declared full support to the farmers' ideas, it tried to impose
its own vision of the project without letting farmers express their
ideas and concerns. The meeting was dominated by the speech of the