Comment on "Socio-economic aspects and farming practices of goats in Southern Tunisia" by Chniter et al. (2024).

Abstract

The following comment is addressed to Chniter et al. (Trop Anim Health Prod 56:220, 2024) related to "Socio-economic aspects and farming practices of goats in Southern Tunisia". In their review of socio-economic aspects of goats growing in southern Tunisia, the authors have overlooked or missed some important issues that, in my view, can turn in incomplete (or sometimes confusing) interpretation of the performed data analyses. The following comment is intended to draw attention to (1) the threat and the impact of goat raising on land degradation and the spread of desert-like conditions in a region already prone to desertification, (2) whether goat raising is considered a direct cause or a consequence of desertification and prolonged drought in arid and semi-arid areas located in the northern fringes of the Sahara such as southern Tunisia (Medenine and Tataouine), and (3) the difficulties of implementing proper grazing management in these areas.