Integrating
Crop/Livestock Production Systems in the Low-Rainfall Areas of West Asia and
North Africa
Success
Stories
Cactus
in Tunisia: A Wonder Plant
The
video clips on this site are made soundless for web use. The original video
is available in broadcast quality DVCAM format for use in covering ICARDA's
research and development activities. Contact S.Varma@CGIAR.ORG
1 Harvesting cactus. For example, in dry central Tunisia, cactus is
a principal feed source. Large cactus ‘pads’ are harvested using
a long metal hook and knife from plants growing close to the homestead.
2
Using dry cactus as firewood. Cactus spines are too sharp and hard for sheep
to eat, so they must be burned off. Dried cactus pads make good fuel in place
of scarce wood.
3
Burning off the spikes on cactus. The same long metal hook used to harvest
cactus is indispensable in the burning process. The cactus pads are held in
the flame, and the spines burn away in a matter of seconds.
4
Chopping cactus pads for feeding sheep. Next, the cactus pads are chopped.
The wheelbarrow used to carry the cactus feed to the sheep also serves as a
handy chopping board.
5
Sheep feeding cactus. Cactus pads make a palatable feed, high in energy.
Some
people might think of cactus as an ornamental plant, but for people in the world’s
dry areas it is a wonder plant with multiple uses. It produces feed for sheep
and goats, fuel for baking bread, tasty and nutritious fruit, and is used in
manufacturing countless products, from soap to medicine.
