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La présence massive de jeunes résidents africains dans la région a résolu le problème de la main-d'œuvre. 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La cueillette des olives dans la délégation de Zarzis, comme ailleurs, bat son plein. La campagne connaît une activité intense. Les tentes sont dressées un peu partout et les huileries sont ouvertes jour et nuit. C'est pour cette raison que cette ville a été baptisée «Capitale des oliviers». Cette année, sa récolte est estimée à 40 mille t d'olives, soit les deux tiers de la quantité totale prévue dans le gouvernorat de Médenine. Avant le coup d'envoi, les agriculteurs se sont fait trop de soucis concernant la main-d'œuvre. Mais la présence massive de jeunes Africains dans la région a résolu le problème. En effet, des milliers d'Africains résident à Zarzis. On les trouve dans tous les domaines : agriculture, pêche, hôtellerie, jardinage, chantiers… Ils participent actuellement à la cueillette de ces arbres de légende dont le nombre des productifs atteint un million et demi. «L'opération récolte et extraction d'huile durera jusqu'au mois d'avril 2020, bien qu'elle n'affiche pas de record», a déclaré M.Mounir Abichou, chercheur dans ce domaine, avant d'ajouter : «Ces arbres bénis ont vieilli à Zarzis parce que leur plantation a débuté en 1901, dans les Offices des terres domaniales (OTD) par les colons puis les privés en 1920. Dans les années 80, des oliviers ont été aussi plantés dans les terrains de parcours qui servaient de pâturage, du côté de Ben Guerdane, mais là, le sol contient du gypse et n'est pas trop fertile». Pour l'extraction de l'huile, Zarzis compte 70 huileries environ, installées un peu partout. A ce niveau, la main-d'œuvre ne pose pas de problème puisque les 40 d'entre elles qui sont en action sont équipées de chaîne continue.
