Launch of the "Water Preservation" Pilot Project
The launch of the pilot project "Water Preservation" took place at an agricultural farm in the delegation of Jedaida (Manouba governorate). This project utilizes Artificial Intelligence (AI), Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and Remote Sensing. It is part of the international PRIMA project (Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area), aimed at Euro-Mediterranean countries. In Tunisia, it is being implemented in partnership between the Faculty of Sciences of Tunis and the Regional Commissariats for Agricultural Development (CRDA) of Manouba and Gabès. The project benefits from an annual allocated cost of 45,000 euros, out of a total budget of 2.6 million euros, distributed among the various Euro-Mediterranean countries involved.
Objectives and Methodology of the Project
According to Salwa Saïdi, academic, researcher, president, and designer of the project (statement to the TAP agency), the objective is to compare the application of approaches using AI, GIS, and remote sensing on two research samples located in northern and southern Tunisia, specifically in Manouba and Gabès. This comparison aims to evaluate the impact of climate change between the north and south, identify the most vulnerable climate, and attempt to find adapted solutions. The experience, launched in Manouba with the support of the General Directorate of Water, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the University of Tunis El Manar, is based on the measurement and control of water. It involves the installation of sophisticated equipment - supported by AI, GIS, and remote sensing - in wells (one artesian well in each area) and making them available to farmers. This equipment allows for instantaneous measurement of multiple water factors to determine the causes of salinity. The data is then analyzed and studied to develop solutions aimed at reducing the impacts of climate change on soil and agriculture.
Scope and Justification of the Region Choice
The project president added that the research sample perimeter will later be expanded to include more farmers. The results and solutions of this experiment will benefit the entire agricultural area. This area was chosen due to factors conducive to the execution of the project: a decline in yield and quality of irrigation water, an increase in the degree of salinity, and the heaviness of clay soil (waterlogging), which have had a negative impact on the agricultural production system.
Expert Insights
Jamel Jaouadi, a specialist in pedology and geology, and a technical member of the project at CRDA, emphasized to the TAP agency that the launch of the experiment, supervised by the Head of the Delegation, Basma M'douri, is part of the efforts to address the risks of climate change, combat the phenomenon of salinization, and the significant decline in precipitation in the region. He also stressed the urgency of improving the quality of irrigation water, which suffers from high salinity and soil waterlogging in the Hénna region, also threatened by flooding. He added that this project also aims to enhance cooperation and strengthen the participatory approach in the development of scientific research systems, by putting research results at the service of promoting the agricultural sector and food security, especially in the face of climate change challenges, including the risks of global warming that have a negative impact on various ecosystems.
A Euro-Mediterranean Project
It is worth noting that the Tunisian researcher and academic is the initiator and president of the project. It is being implemented in cooperation with universities and researchers from Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, and Portugal, with active contributions from economic and social partners from the public and private sectors.
