In the Tunisian region of Kasserine, Yasmina Bouafia defied tradition to take over her family’s farm and turn it into a model of sustainability. With the support of the EU-funded ADAPT programme, she secured the funds to modernise her land and introduce environmentally friendly practices.  ADAPT, with its total budget of €70 million, is transforming Tunisia’s agricultural sector by helping farmers like Yasmina to access finance and build a more resilient future.

Yasmina Bouafia is a young farmer from Majel Bel Abbes, a small village in the Tunisian governorate of Kasserine. Pistachios, almonds, olives and vegetables such as tomatoes are grown on her family’s 15-hectare farm. However, Yasmina’s story is not just about the land she has inherited, but also about how she has redefined what it means to be a farmer, a daughter and a leader.

Growing up in a society where women often cede their agricultural inheritance to their brothers, Yasmina took a bold step. After the death of her father, she decided to take on the main responsibility for the family business. “My motivation to start this project was the death of my father,” she says, her voice full of emotion. “I started it to continue to feel close and connected to him. I feel like he is as involved in this project as I am.”

Armed with her degree in agronomy and a deep-seated desire to honour her father’s memory, Yasmina put her energy into reviving the farm. She took out a loan to finance an initial irrigation plan, dig wells and prepare the land for planting. However, the funds were soon exhausted. When the project stalled, Yasmina feared that her dreams would vanish into thin air. Then she came across the ADAPT programme.

A lifeline for growth

The ADAPT programme became a turning point for Yasmina. The programme, designed to support the sustainable development of Tunisian agriculture and artisanal fisheries, offered her both automatic funding and help with complex administrative procedures. “ADAPT changed everything because it didn’t just help or support – the project wouldn’t even exist without the programme,” says Yasmina.

With ADAPT’s support, Yasmina was able to take out additional loans and finalise her financing plan. She was able to use the funds to invest in important infrastructure: Building, equipping and electrifying a feed storage facility with a geomembrane storage tank, installing an 8-hectare drip irrigation network and planting local varieties of almond, pistachio and olive trees. These investments not only ensured the farm’s survival, but also made it a model of resilience and sustainability in the face of climatic challenges.

ADAPT’s support also enabled Yasmina to introduce innovative practices such as composting overproduction and post-harvest waste to produce animal feed. This closed-loop system not only minimises the amount of waste, but also contributes to the farm’s self-sufficiency. For Yasmina, these advances meant more than just agricultural progress. They embodied a holistic approach to sustainability that aligned perfectly with her academic training and personal philosophy.

Cultivating change

As an agricultural engineer, Yasmina’s approach to farming goes beyond yields and profits. “I studied the SDGs in school,” she explains, “I studied sustainability and what the needs of the plants are and how to work in a way that respects the land and the whole ecosystem.” This attitude sets Yasmina apart in a field where maximising short-term profits often comes at the expense of the long-term health of the environment. “Not me,” she says firmly.

Yasmina’s connection to her work is as emotional as it is intellectual. Her love for her father, her connection to the land and her scientific expertise fuel her passion. But she is also a pioneer in another sense: as a woman leading an agricultural project in a male-dominated sector. In rural Tunisia, women make up the majority of the agricultural labour force, but are a minority among landowners. Yasmina is in the process of changing this picture.

Her farm employs exclusively female, local labour and thus contributes to the economic and social development of her region. “I hope to create a dynamic of development and prosperity here,” she says, “I want to be in harmony with the ecosystem not only ecologically, but also socially and economically”

ADAPT: Bridging the financing gap in agriculture

The ADAPT programme (Appui au Développement durable dans le secteur de l’Agriculture et de la Pêche artisanale en Tunisie) has brought about change for farmers and small-scale fishermen throughout Tunisia. It is funded by the European Union with a budget of 70 million euros and implemented by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) in partnership with the World Food Programme (WFP). ADAPT pursues an innovative and sustainable approach that ensures food security, self-sufficiency and responsible resource management.

ADAPT focuses on private investment as a catalyst for economic, social and environmental change. Its goal is to support over 8,200 agricultural and artisanal fishing businesses by 2028, including farmers, small businesses and cooperatives in all regions of Tunisia. Women and young people are at the heart of the programme: 15% of beneficiaries are women and 26% are under 35 years old.

ADAPT plays a crucial role in facilitating access to credit for farmers and small-scale fishers, many of whom find it difficult to obtain loans through traditional banking channels. Marion Piccio, ADAPT’s communications expert, explains: “We often have farmers or fishermen who want to develop but don’t have access to credit, and it’s not easy for them with the banks.”

To bridge this gap, ADAPT assesses the feasibility and sustainability of each project before offering financial support. The programme ensures that projects comply with three basic pillars: environmental, economic and social sustainability. Once a project is approved, ADAPT facilitates access to banks and provides the necessary equity, which covers up to 14% of the requested loan amount, significantly improving a farmer’s ability to obtain a loan. “The bank sees that the initial funding is in place and that ADAPT is checking and ensuring the sustainability of the project. This makes access to financing much easier,” adds Piccio.

By ensuring this financial support and validation, ADAPT enables farmers like Yasmina Bouafia to expand their agricultural projects. The programme’s focus on sustainability fits perfectly with Yasmina’s vision of a farm that thrives while respecting the ecosystem.