STORY: ::Manouba, Tunisia
::December 2, 2024
In the sun-drenched fields of northern Tunisia, two farmers have emerged as pioneers in the country of a crop known as “Red Gold”.
Faced with the impact of climate change on their livelihoods, they’ve turned to saffron.
“They call it ‘Red Gold’ firstly because of its red appearance and because it’s as expensive as gold.”
::This Earth
Faiza Hamdaoui left her administrative career in 2000 to pursue her passion for farming.
But the droughts that have plagued the North African country in last few years left her needing new ideas.
::Faiza Hamdaoui, Tunisian farmer and saffron producer
“Now, due to climate change in recent years, I’ve turned to crops that don’t require much water, including saffron.”
Tunisia’s nascent saffron industry began when Algerian saffron producer Torsh Mouhamad Dhia Al-Din approached her.
::Torsh Mouhamad Dhia Al-Din , Algerian farmer and saffron producer
“I conducted an experiment in Algeria for saffron cultivation – the ‘Red Gold’ – and after its success in Algeria over time, we moved to Tunisia. I contacted Mrs. Faiza, who is interested in organic farming, and she allowed me to conduct this experiment in Tunisia. We did it, thank God, and in the beginning years it was a new experience.”
Here in Manouba, the cultivation cycle begins in August, with flowers blooming in October.
Dhia Al-Din explains how the flowers are carefully collected and handled to extract the three, precious, red stigmas, which are then dried naturally before being sold.
It’s now their fourth successful year of cultivation.
The two farmers’ collaboration has proven that saffron, cultivated for thousands of years as a spice, dye, and medicine, can thrive in Tunisia’s climate.
And now, they’re thinking bigger, with plans for expansion and to export the saffron abroad.
But it’s more than just personal success for Hamdaoui.
Tunisia has been struggling under the pressures of a severe financial crisis.
Hamdaoui aims to spread the knowledge of saffron cultivation to other Tunisian farmers, with the hope that it could create a new agricultural opportunity for the country.
