Development of rural areas, when based only on promoting agricultural activities, often ends up in leaving large rural areas less developped. This effect attest to the inability of agricultural activity alone to develop rural areas, particularly those with low production potential, and to offer full employment to the rural labour force. The analysis, at the national level, of the part time farming's importance and role, demonstrates that it is being always present both in time and in space throughout the structure of agricultural in Tunisia. But it is at the local level that it has been possible to better understand the mecanisms through whose the part time farming operates in the farm's working and reproduction in the semi-arid areas. All this demonstrates the interest of local development approach which integrates all the economic sectors.
