Traditional irrigation techniques in MENA with a focus on Tunisia

Summary, in English

Due to their efficiency, revitalized traditional techniques for irrigation management of scarce water resources have been suggested as a way to at least partially cope with the present water crises in the Middle East. A better irrigation management includes re-using treated wastewater in agriculture. Treated wastewater should also be used in industrial processes, thus contributing to a more efficient overall water management. However, the most important change leading to better water management is improving water efficiency in agricultural irrigation. Traditional water management techniques have an important role in many Middle East and North African (MENA) countries. Besides bringing more water to a thirsty population, they can also contribute to the societal awareness, and recognition of the great diversity of cultural and social values water has to human civilization.

• Author: S. Jebari; R. Berndtsson; H. Hashemi; J. Wessels
• Department/s: Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies (CMES); MECW: The Middle East in the Contemporary World; Division of Water Resources Engineering; LTH Profile Area: Water; Department of Political Science
• Publishing year: 2016-04-15
• Language: English
• Pages: 1346-1357
• Publication/Series: Hydrological Sciences Journal
• Volume: 61
• Issue: 7
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2016.1165349
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Topic: Oceanography, Hydrology, Water Resources
• Keywords: food security; Middle East and North Africa (MENA); qanats; rainwater harvesting; traditional water management; water crisis
• Status: Published
• Project: Hydropolitics and peacebuilding
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 0262-6667