Évaluation de la durabilité des exploitations agricoles irriguées en zones arides tunisiennes par la méthode IDEA: Cas de la région de zarzis

Abstract

In southern Tunisia water for irrigation is very important. Its management requires adequate control to ensure the sustainability of the irrigated lands. Affected by desertification, natural resources are limited. Intensification and excessive irrigation are leading to the degradation of the quality of these resources, imposing an obstacle for agricultural development. In this work, an analytical study of irrigated perimeters in Zarzis was carried out to identify their main characteristics. The aim is to evaluate the socio-economic and environmental impacts of irrigation water on farming system sustainability, using the IDEA method by analyzing the three sustainability scales (agro-ecological, socio-territorial and economic). The study is based on a sample of 39 farms, characterized by a limited socio-territorial scale, in which the component “Quality of products and territories” is unsatisfactory. The economical aspect it is characterized by a good transmissibility, depending on financial autonomy degree. The results in the agro-ecological scale are the highest. The assessment of the sustainability of irrigated lands requires the analysis of interactions between these three scales.