HYDRAULIC AND AGRICULTURAL PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT OF A REHABILITATED PUBLIC IRRIGATION SCHEME IN SEMI-ARID TUNISIA

A. EL AMRI, R. MAJDOUB, S. BEN AYED, Y. M’SADAK

Abstract


The sustainable management of irrigation water has become a strategic priority in arid and semi-arid regions where increasing water scarcity, climate variability, and growing agricultural demands threaten food security and ecosystem sustainability. Tunisia has implemented extensive rehabilitation programs for public irrigation schemes to improve water-use efficiency and enhance agricultural productivity. This study presents a comprehensive performance assessment of the rehabilitated Zaafrana II public irrigation scheme located in the Kairouan Governorate, central Tunisia. The evaluation combines hydraulic, agronomic, and management indicators, including water allocation efficiency, distribution network performance, adoption of water-saving irrigation technologies, cropping intensity, crop water satisfaction, and irrigation water productivity.

The results demonstrate that the rehabilitation program significantly improved the operational performance of the irrigation network. The average distribution efficiency reached approximately 95%, while the adoption of pressurized irrigation systems exceeded national strategic targets. Agricultural intensification increased progressively, reaching full land utilization after rehabilitation, whereas crop water requirements were satisfied at an average rate of approximately 85%, indicating efficient allocation of available water resources. The rehabilitation also encouraged farmers to adopt modern irrigation technologies and improved the overall productivity of irrigation water despite increasing climatic constraints.

The findings confirm that infrastructure modernization, combined with appropriate irrigation management practices, substantially enhances the sustainability and resilience of public irrigation systems operating under water-limited environments. The study further highlights the importance of continuous monitoring using integrated performance indicators to support evidence-based decision-making and long-term water resource management in Mediterranean irrigated agriculture.


Keywords


Irrigation performance, Water-use efficiency, Public irrigation schemes, Irrigation modernization, Water productivity, Hydraulic efficiency, Agricultural intensification, Irrigation management, Climate resilience, Tunisia.

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