The Secretary of State to the Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, in charge of Water, Hamadi Habib, announced that the rate of access to drinking water in rural areas has reached approximately 95.3% nationwide. This statement was made during the annual meeting of the General Directorate of Rural Engineering and Water Exploitation, held on Monday, June 2.
Acceleration of Drinking Water Supply Projects
Hamadi Habib emphasized that the Ministry’s departments are working to complete delayed water supply projects, finalize the drilling of new potable water wells, and conclude public procurement procedures related to water supply and infrastructure rehabilitation.
He also noted that the electrical connection of completed projects is ongoing, especially in the governorates of Kasserine, Sidi Bouzid, Kairouan, Nabeul, and Gafsa.
Restarting Cancelled Projects and Delegating Complex Ones
The Secretary of State also stressed the importance of speeding up the restart of cancelled procurement contracts and adopting technical standards to facilitate the transfer of complex projects to the National Water Distribution Utility (SONEDE), under the supervision of the General Directorate of Rural Engineering.
Irrigation Management Amidst Drought Conditions
In response to the critically low dam reserves, due to successive years of drought, the Ministry has implemented a strict water management strategy for the 2024/2025 agricultural season.
In a first phase, approximately 10 million cubic meters of water were allocated for cereal irrigation in public irrigated areas dependent on major dams. Additionally, 70.2 million cubic meters were earmarked for the irrigation of 40,000 hectares of fruit trees, fodder crops, and strategic vegetables.
Measures to Optimize Water Use
To make the most of these allocations, the Secretary of State announced that water quantities provided will be pre-paid. Furthermore, debt restructuring over seven years will be granted to water user associations, farmers, and public agricultural development companies directly managed by regional delegations.
Simultaneously, all irrigation outlets will be equipped with water meters, signaling the end of flat-rate billing. This aims to enhance transparency in the calculation and distribution of water resources.
Modernization of Irrigation Techniques and Capacity Building
The Ministry is actively encouraging farmers to adopt modern irrigation techniques, with the goal of achieving a more efficient and sustainable agricultural model. Several advanced technologies will be introduced to modernize farming practices in Tunisia.
Lastly, Hamadi Habib underscored the need to strengthen the technical capacities of professionals in the irrigation sector, while continuing awareness and training campaigns on water conservation. A long-term strategy to modernize and upgrade aging irrigated areas is also underway, along with annual maintenance programs for public irrigation networks.
Source: TAP
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