ABSTRACT
On my first visit to the village of Ait Ali in autumn 2008 inquiring about the feasibility of a farm survey, I entered into a gathering of villagers lively exchanging the latest news: missing rainfall, the interruption of the dam irrigation, a new cooperative for milk production which had been founded in a neighbouring village and the installation of a new greenhouse on a recently sold property. We soon started to discuss the situation in the village and I especially asked for main activities and local agriculture: how many families lived in the village and what were their main sources of income? Were there still farmers living in this village and would I be able to find enough interviewees for my survey? ‘Of course’, was the unanimous answer of the small group. ‘There are lots of farmers living in Ait Ali; you will find many families for your interviews!’ And one of them even added: ‘Just look at us, we are all fellahin [farmers]!’
