Description/achievement of initiative
The irrigated agriculture sector is the primary water consumer in North Africa (Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia). These countries have mobilized most of their resources and should now continue to improve management of demand to guarantee the environmental and socio-economic sustainability of the sector. National agricultural water economy strategies have been defined. The aim is that these measures be implemented by local bodies (from the perimeter manager to the agricultural water user) in spite of the difficulties associated with the major technical, social and economic constraints involved. The aim of the research project is to develop new management tools and procedures (via modelling) to try and balance water resources, the needs of plants and social and economic practices in the irrigated perimeters. The aim is to "co-construct " new practices with the irrigated perimeter managers then, via modelling and further trials, to select those which are most suitable and to apply them to other irrigated sites.
Implementation methodologies
Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer
Coordination mechanisms/governance structure
Partner(s)
Governments:
Government of France - General Directorate for International Cooperation and Development
Government of France - Nat'l Cttee -Intn'l Comm. on Irrigation & Drainage
Government of France - PCSI: Common Irrigated Systems Program
Government of Morocco - Ministry of Agriculture -SEEN
Government of Tunisia - CRDA: Reg. Commission on Agricultural Development
Government of Tunisia - DGGR: General Rural Engineering Directorate
Major Groups:
Blida University (Algeria)
ENP: Ecole Nationale Polytechnique (Algeria)
IGR UB Rural Engineering Institute (Algeria)
INA EH: National Agronomics Institute, El Harrach (Algeria)
Cemagref: Ag.& envt'l engineering research inst. (France)
Cirad: Centre int'l coop. ag. research for dev. (France)
ENGREF: Inst. of Forestry, Ag. and Envt'l Eng. (France)
IRD: Institute for Research & Development (France)
AUEA: Assoc. of Agricultural Water Users (Morocco)
ENAM: National School of Agriculture (Morocco)
INRA: National Institute for Agricultural Research (Morocco)
Meknès IAV HII: Agronomic & Vet. Inst. Hassan II (Morocco)
ORMVA: Regional Added Value Agriculture Office (Morocco)
IWMI: International Water Management Inst. (South Africa)
ENIT: National Engineering College (Tunisia)
GIC: Community Interests Group (Tunisia)
INAT: National Agricultural Institute (Tunisia)
INRGREF (Tunisia)
IRESA: Agricultural Research & Higher Ed. Inst (Tunisia)