Water Policy in Tunisia

In Tunisia, climate varies from Mediterranean to arid and semi-arid. Water resources are characterized by scarcity and a pronounced irregularity. The water supply policy, with nearly 40% of agricultural investment in the 1980s, allowed to develop an irrigated agriculture and to create an undeniable productive potential. Despite the performances in irrigated agriculture, the water sector still suffers from economic, social, ecological, and institutional problems. The scarcity of water induced by the increasing demands of various economic sectors and climate change effects leads to the questioning of current allocations of the water resources. Given the economic model adopted and the current governance, water scarcity would be a major threat for sustainability.