ABSTRACT

This chapter reviews the elements of continuity and change in Tunisian agriculture, including investments in water for agriculture and focuses on the Tunisian fishing industry, an industry that has expanded to a plateau in annual production. One significant form of agriculture investment has been in water resources, especially valuable to the Sahel region with only 300 mm rainfall a year. The Nebhana reservoir and dam was one of the first large scale dam projects in Tunisia. The Nebhana reservoir, completed in 1969, holds 85 million m3 of water and is capable of providing 4000 m3 of water per second at its maximum rate. The water is then distributed through a large distribution network. The irrigation techniques used in the Sahel do create significant water losses. The main irrigated perimeters in the Sahel in which these irrigation techniques are used can be found near Teboulba, Bekalta, Sahline, Chott Meriem, Akouda and Sidi bou Ali.