When I arrive in Tbainia, a village some 25 kms from Ain Drahem in the Governorate of Jendouba , where all the dynamics revolve around a café, a primary school, a mosque and a weekly market, I am far from suspecting that I will meet a beautiful young woman with high heels, nails varnished in a beautiful red and all smiling. Rabab Daboussi is an agricultural engineer. She is 29 years old and produces oyster mushrooms and Shiitake, two varieties of mushrooms, under glass in a wheat substrate. Meeting By Amel DJAIT

1001Tunisia: How long have you been in production? How did you finance your project?

Rabaab Daboussi: a little over a year ago I responded to Fikra’s call for proposals. I was encouraged, trained, helped and it changed my life. I learned to study my costs, I received training in communication and marketing … Being an agricultural engineer, I knew perfectly what I had to do and where I wanted to go.

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Why the mushroom?

And why not ? You know, the mushroom was part of the food of the populations of the forests of Ain Drahem. Because of global warming, lack of water and people’s disaffection, it is disappearing and I am trying to reintroduce it. Even though I currently import the seeds, I promise that I will quickly produce my own seeds. I just have to invest in a small lab and some instruments.

So, for you it is a product of the terroir?

Absolutely.

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How many mushrooms do you produce? What are its varieties? What is the cost of production?

I produce around 100Kg per production cycle. The fungi grown in substrate have a long cycle. Each seed can yield between 4 and 5 production cycles. The harvest is ready in 3 to 4 weeks. Then, know here everything is recovered! The substrate in question is bio, rich in elements and serves as fertilizer. In terms of varieties, we produce oyster mushrooms (white and yellow) and Shiitaki, the most widespread variety in the world.

Where can I buy your products? Who are your clients ?

Here in Tabinia! At least for the moment. I have more and more restaurateurs who come to discover the products and who are immediately satisfied. I also have customers who as soon as the Shiitaki are ready come to take everything. That said, I am preparing my second greenhouse to increase my production.

When you do not have fresh mushrooms, what do you propose?

I am in the process of preparing dried mushrooms, powdered, …. My range is developing.

 

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What is the impact on employment of this project? How does the village react to what you are doing?

Very good. My mother is my first supporter. My father gave me the land where I put the greenhouses and today I installed a kitchen garden. Directly, the project has developed 7 jobs and 3 indirect ones. In general, people in the area are proud of my project and my work. It has created a real dynamic and when buses come from agronomy schools to Tbainia, they are very happy.

 

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In addition to this project are you engaged locally?

Completely! I am in the “Atlas” association in Ain Drahem (Tunisian Association for Leadership, Self-Development and Solidarity). I am the Regional Coordinator of the “Rayhana” Association for Development and Citizenship and Vice-President of the Tbainia-Aindrahem Women’s Agricultural Development Group (GFDA Tbainia).

What can we say to those who do not dare to embark on entrepreneurship? What about young people who think they have no future in their regions?

Work! There are many opportunities. Propose, act, undertake. I’m succeeding, why not you?

What was the trigger?

Frankly the program Fikra  http://fikra-tounisiya.org  I did not even think to be successful in the selection. There were so many people and so many interesting projects! I got a donation of 27 thousand dinars which allowed to buy the greenhouses, the seeds, the material …. I received several trainings and you know what, I am competing for an international prize in the ” Innovation for young people! I will not stop there!

http://fikra-tounisiya.org

 

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