CLIMATE CHANGE AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES OF PRIVATE IRRIGATED FARMS IN SOUTHEASTERN TUNISIA: CASE OF THE GABÈS-NORD TUNISIA AREA

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyze the individual strategies and determinants of adaptation to climate change (CC) of irrigators in South-Eastern Tunisia. A survey questionnaire was administered to 157 randomly selected farm managers in the Gabès-North area, and descriptive statistics and a multinomial logistic model were used to analyze the data collected from irrigants. The climate variability felt by irrigants is explained by a decrease in precipitation and by an increase in temperature. To address this, two adaptation strategies are distinguished. A first category is called defensive. It aims to adapt production systems to the water available on the farm taking into account existing wells and boreholes. The second category is called offensive. It consists of investing in acquiring the water needed to maintain the farm’s production system. The main determinants of adaptation are given by the perception of CC, by the diversification of sources of income, by the farmers’ age, by education and by access to extension services.