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May 19 2025
35In the heart of Tunisia’s arid south, the town of Jemna has turned a historic date palm grove into a beacon of economic independence and community empowerment. Since wresting control of the land from the state during the 2011 revolution, the town’s residents have seen their quality of life drastically improve through a locally driven, non-profit agricultural model.
Home to around 8,000 people, Jemna is renowned for producing some of the finest dates in North Africa. Following the revolution that led to the ousting of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, locals expelled businessmen linked to the former regime who had previously controlled the grove through low-cost leases.
The community then established the Association to Protect the Jemna Oasis (ASOJ), which now manages the 100-year-old grove. Among the 50 full-time workers is 57-year-old Abdelbasset Abed, who reflects on the transformation: “The situation is a lot better than before. I have a stable job.”
During harvest season, the grove’s 12,000 date palms employ approximately 160 people—ten times more than before community control, with two-thirds of them working seasonally. Over the past 15 years, the grove has generated nearly 14 million dinars (around $4.5 million), fueling a wide array of public projects.
The community’s success is visible throughout the town: a covered market, a sports field, computer labs in schools, scholarships, and support for other local organizations. ASOJ has also provided financial assistance to students and donated 50 date palms to UTAIM, a local group supporting children with disabilities. “They gave us a stable source of revenue,” said Halima Ben Othman, UTAIM’s director.
Even the town cemetery has benefited. Thanks to income from the grove, it now features a boundary wall and seating area for visitors. “Even the dead benefit,” joked Tahar Ettahri, head of ASOJ.
This transformation wasn’t without struggle. Just days before Ben Ali’s departure, locals occupied the grove, previously leased to two well-connected businessmen. When authorities attempted to reclaim the land using armored vehicles, residents responded with a peaceful three-month sit-in. At the same time, they continued harvesting and maintaining the grove.
A coalition of citizens, trade unionists, and activists emerged, launching a fundraiser that collected 34,000 dinars (roughly $10,000) from over 800 donors to support the initiative’s early days. “We came from different ideological backgrounds, but our shared interest in Jemna united us,” said Ettahri.
The town has also embraced participatory democracy. In the Jemna Agora, an open public forum, residents can voice concerns or propose new projects, which are then voted on collectively.
Despite its achievements—including generating 1.8 million dinars (about $592,000) by its fourth year—the project has faced challenges from post-revolution governments. Fifteen years on, legal recognition remains unresolved. Residents have offered to pay retroactive rent and formally lease the grove, aiming for a legal settlement.
In line with a presidential decree on “citizen’s enterprises,” ASOJ has transitioned into a “community company,” boasting 334 volunteer members—well above the 50-member threshold. Ettahri emphasized that broad membership ensures inclusive representation.
Looking ahead, the group plans to launch a facility to sort and package dates locally, which would provide year-round employment to 100 women. While Ettahri, now 72 and a grandfather of seven, has stepped back from operational duties, he remains at the helm of ASOJ, safeguarding the project’s vision.
Jemna’s story, as sociologist Mohamed Kerrou wrote in Jemna, the Revolution Oasis, is a living testament to the revolutionary ideals that once sparked hope across the Arab world.
Source:https://phys.org/news/2025-05-tunisian-revolution-oasis-palm-grove.html
This is non-financial/medical advice and made using AI so could be wrong.
