The Technical Center of Organic Agriculture organized a training session for rural women on "The production and processing of organic aromatic and medicinal plants”, from April 15 to 16, 2024 in Douz in the governorate of Kebili.

In this training session, the cultivation of organic aromatic and medicinal plants, the development of the sector, and the processing methods of these plants were presented.

During the first day, two communications were presented: The first was about the techniques of organic production of medicinal and aromatic and the second concerned the production methods of organic plants and seeds in a second intervention.

On the second day, an intervention about the organic transformation and processing of aromatic and medicinal plant products was presented with a practical session on the distillation and drying of aromatic and medicinal products, followed by a session for questions concerning the organic production procedure, as well as the marketing of products and the added value in the marketing of these products.

Friday April 05, 2024: field visit and installation of an experience on the fertilization of organic geranium in the exploitation of Mr. Walid Al Siala, in Gremda (Grouvernorate de Sfax).

Monitoring and assistance by:

- Salaheddine SOUGUIR: Technical Center for organic farming.

- Kamel NAIFER and Salima MAHFOUDH: Organic Farming Division at Regional Commissioner for Agricultural Development (CRDA) of Sfax.

Ms. Faten Ksouri Mansour participated on Thursday 19^th March 2024 in at a follow up of a trial in the organic farm of Mr. Habib Helal in Hedadra of the Governorate of Monastir, with the collaboration of the Technical Center for Organic Agriculture (CTAB) and the Regional Commissioner for Agricultural Development (CRDA) of Monastir.

The trial is to study the adaptation of the post-season potato organic crop.

During this day, yield was estimated and tuber calibration study was made.

As part of the exchange of experiences, a group of professors and Students from the Horticulture, Landscape and Marketing School of Saint Ilan in France and the Higher Agronomic Institute of Chott Meriem - Sousse - Tunisia visited the Technical Center for Organic Agriculture (CTAB) on March 19, 2024.

During this visit, there was a presentation of the CTAB activities, a visit to the pesticide residue analysis laboratory and contaminants of the CTAB was made as well as experimental station.

As part of the partnership between the Technical Center of Organic Agriculture (CTAB), the project of “Protection and rehabilitation of degraded soils in Tunisia (ProSol) and the project of “Knowledge Hub for Organic Agriculture and Agroecology in North Africa (KHNA), two days of training on “Carbon Sequestration in Soil " were held on March 4 and 5, 2024 in one of the hotel structures in Hammamet.

This training session was facilitated by Dr. Haithem Bahri, a renowned expert in this field, to guide the knowledge multipliers of the KHNA project and the beneficiaries of the ProSol project towards more sustainable agriculture and respectful of the environment.

Indeed, in addition to the crucial component of capacity building of partners, these days allowed fruitful exchanges between participants which made it possible to build an ambitious vision towards good agricultural practices and their importance in the fight against climate change in particular by promoting carbon sequestration in soils.

Tuesday March 12 2024: Follow up of a trial in the Rouis farm in the Knaies region of the Governorate of Sousse.

The trial is to determine the cost of production of organic Okra seeds

Follow-up and supervision realized by:

- Faten Mansour: CTAB.

- Mme Naima Osman and Mme Asma Aissa: CRDA of Sousse - organic farming division.

The Technical Center of Organic Agriculture (CTAB) with the collaboration of the Regional Research Center of Horticulture and Organic Agriculture (CRRHAB) and the
Higher Agronomic Institute of Chott Mariem (ISACM), organized a workshop on the production of organic pomegranates from 6 to 7 March 2024.

During this workshop, the following technical and scientific interventions were presented:

- Techniques of the production of organic pomegranate: Youssef Amor, General Engineer at the CTAB.

- Insects of organic pomegranate: prevention and control: Mohamed Brahem, researcher at the CRRHAB.

- The most important diseases of organic pomegranate: prevention and control: Haifa Khiareddine, researcher at the CRRHAB.

- Valorization of the quality of organic pomegranate: Faten Zaouai, professor at the ISACM.

Also, testimonials were presented by organic pomegranate producers. During this workshop, technical and scientific interventions and testimonials were presented about the
production of organic pomegranates.

Wednesday, March 13, 2024: Installation of a demonstration plot in the organic farm “Errissala” company in Mornag of the Governorate of Ben Arous, with the collaboration and cooperation between the Technical Center of Organic Agriculture (CTAB), the Biotechnology Center of Borj Cedria (CBBC) and the Regional Commissioner of Agricultural Development (CRDA) of Ben Arous.

The demonstration plot concerns the irrigation of organic olive tree (Variety: Chetoui and Chemlali)

by using jars.

During this day, the experimental design and the needs of the demonstration plot were determined.

Follow-up and supervision realized by:

- Youssef Amor and Faten Mansour: CTAB.

- Hassen Zemni and Nabil Ben Youssef: CBBC.

- Samia Ben Amor : Division of Organic Agriculture :CRDA of Ben Arous.

As part of the exchange of experiences, a group of teachers and students from the University of Kassel-Germany accompanied by Pr. Bouthaina Dridi from the Higher Institute of Chott Meriem- Sousse –tunisie, visited the Technical Center for Organic Agriculture (CTAB) on March 08, 2024.

During this visit, there was a presentation of CTAB activities and a presentation of the KHNA project as well as the digital platform. A visit to the pesticide residue analysis laboratory and contaminants of the CTAB was made as well as experimental station.

Management :

Ms. Faten Ksouri Mansour and Ms. Dalel Melki (CTAB) and Ms. Khaoula Mokrani (KHNA).

The Technical Center for Organic Agriculture (CTAB) is pleased to announce the change in its logo, and it was officially adopted from March 01, 2024.

Friday March 08, 2024: A field visit to the organic exploitation of M Walid Al Siala, in Gremda of Grouvernorate of Sfax, to discuss the installation of an experience on the fertilization of organic geranium.

Monitoring and assistance by:

- Salaheddine Souguir and Layla Ladheri: Technical Center of Organic Agriculture.

Mr. Hatem Chehidi, Engineer at the Technical Center for Organic Agriculture (CTAB), animated a training session on "Production techniques for organic field cereals" in cooperation with the Organic Agriculture Division at the Regional Commissioner for Agricultural Development in Bizerte. And this on February 28 and 29, 2024 at the Higher Agricultural School of Mateur.

Tuesday, February 27, 2024: Installation of a trial in organic farm of Ms. Hayet El Melliti in El Alia of the Governorate of Bizerte, with the collaboration and cooperation between the Technical Center of Organic Agriculture (CTAB), the Biotechnology Center of Borj Cedria and the Regional Commissioner of Agricultural Development (CRDA) of Bizerte.

The trial consists on studying the irrigation of organic olive tree (Variety: Chetoui) by using jars.

During this day, the experimental design and the needs of the trial were determined.

Follow-up and supervision realized by:

- Youssef Amor: CTAB.

- Hassen Zemni and Nabil Ben Youssef: CBBC.

- Najoua Sahbani : Division of Organic Agriculture : CRDA of Bizerte.

Date: Friday, February 1^st, 2024

Visitors: A group of 8th year pupils from the private preparatory school “Les Elites” in Sousse. Subject: Presentation of the bases and principles of organic Agriculture, fertilization and protection. As well as the presentation of the Knowledge Hub for organic Agriculture and Agroecology in North Africa (KHNA)

Supervision: Salaheddine SOUGUIR.

The Technical Center for Organic Agriculture congratulates Dr Mohamed Ben Khedher for the publication of his book entitled: “Organic agriculture: holistic, technical, scientific, economic, social, ethical, wholesome, environmental, balanced and sustainable approach”.

This book explains the principles, techniques and regulations of organic farming and constitutes a reliable source of scientific and technical knowledge for all operators in the organic sector.

The Technical Center of Organic Agriculture (CTAB) has succeeded in renewing the national “Marhba” label for improving the quality of reception after having fulfilled all the conditions related to good reception on September 15, 2023. This certificate is valid for three years, with an annual audit monitored by the National Institute of Standardization and Industrial Property INNORPI. It should be noted that the CTAB is the first institution of the Ministry of Agriculture, hydraulic resources and fishing which obtained the "Marhba" quality label since June 18, 2010.

The national label "Marhba" is developed by INNORPI in cooperation with the administrative quality services unit of the Presidency of the Government, and awarded to eligible public administrations with good reception and effective access to the required services.

The regulation of this label indicates that the response to the service requested by mail must not exceed 21 days, the response to the service requested by e-mail must not exceed 48 hours and the response to telephone requests must be instant or not later than 24 hours.

The CTAB has succeeded in November 2023 to renew the integrated certification "QSE" obtained since February 2013, making it the first public establishment in Tunisia who got this type of certificate which includes certification to the international standard for quality management systems "ISO9001:2015", the international standard for environmental management systems "ISO14001:2015" and the international standard for management systems of work health and safety "ISO 45001:2018".

 The integrated certification "QSE" of our center has allowed our center to improve continuously, better organized to serve our customers, define our direction and aims, understand and meet the needs seekers of our services, motivate staff, manage our resources and activities as a process, manage our processes as a system for more efficiency in achieving our targets, to have a realistic approach who facilitates decision making to the direction, to improve the analysis of data and information and to have a mutually beneficial relationship with our suppliers.

Date: Friday, February 16, 2024

Visitors: A group of 8th year pupils from the private preparatory school “Les Elites” in Sousse. Subject: Presentation of the bases and principles of organic Agriculture, fertilization and protection. As well as the presentation of the Knowledge Hub for organic Agriculture and Agroecology in North Africa (KHNA)

Supervision: Salaheddine SOUGUIR.

Wednesday, February 07, 2024: Installation of a trial in organic farm of Mr. Anoir Ayari in Gaafour of the Governorate of Siliana, with the collaboration and cooperation between the Technical Center of Organic Agriculture (CTAB), the Biotechnology Center of Borj Cedria and the Regional Commissioner of Agricultural Development (CRDA) of Siliana.

The trial consists on studying the fertilization of organic oil olive tree (Variety: Chetoui) by using a bio-fertilizer.

During this day, the experimental protocol and the needs of the trial were determined.

Follow-up and supervision realized by:

- Youssef Amor: CTAB.

- Hassen Zemni and Nabil Ben Youssef: CBBC.

Mr. Chehidi Hatem, engineer of the Technical Center for Organic Agriculture, made a field visit to the farm of Mr. Omar Mistiri in Joumine (Bizerte) as part of technical supervision of organic farmers, accompanied by Ms. Narjes Ouerghi, Ms. Aicha Abessi, Ms. Najwa Sahbeni and Mr. Arbi Omri from the Department of Organic Agriculture at the Regional Commissioner for Agricultural Development in Bizerte, and this on Thursday, February 1^st, 2024.