A farm in the Hanna region, in the El-Jedida delegation (Manouba governorate), welcomed the official launch of the pilot project “Water preservation” Based on artificial intelligence, geographic information systems and remote sensing. This program is part of the international initiative Primadedicated to Euro-Mediterranean countries, with an annual funding of 45,000 euros, of a global budget of 2.6 million euros allocated to the various partner countries.
The project, initiated and led by the university researcher Salwa Saidiaims to compare the application of innovative methods for monitoring and analyzing water resources in two pilot zones: Manouba to the north and Gabès south. The objective is to assess the impact of climate change between these two contrasting regions and to offer solutions adapted to local realities.
Concretely, the experiment is based on the installation of advanced equipment in Artesian wells in order to measure in real time several parameters of water, including salinity. These data, processed using artificial intelligence and geographic information systems, will be made available to farmers to improve irrigation management and reduce negative effects on soils and agricultural production.
A project at the service of farmers
Experience, supported by the Ministry of Agriculture, the General Water Administration and the University of Tunis El Manar, should be extended to a larger number of farmers. In particular, it concerns areas where irrigation water yields are decreasing, where salinity is growing and where clay soils (often engorged) complicate production.
For Jamel JaouadiExpert in pedology and member of the technical team at the regional agricultural development delegation of Manouba, this project is part of a strategy to combat salinization, the drop in precipitation and the increased risk of floods. He also underlines the collaborative and scientific dimension of the initiative, which mobilizes researchers, public institutions and socio-economic partners to strengthen agriculture resilience and contribute to food security.
