The Maghreb structural water resource’s scarcity combined with contemporary recurrent droughts plaguing the region are causing increased tensions among water users, namely urban, industrial and agricultural water sectors. Since the latter is the major water use sector in the Maghreb (more than 80%), we believe related innovative thinking, strategies, technologies, techniques and initiatives are set to participate actively in solving this vital challenge. In fact, numerous research axis, technological tools, resilient practices, and water management strategies have been or still being studied, developed and extended to farmers in the last decades at different scales with various success levels. Being convinced not a single option alone will help overcome this challenge but a combination of solutions, we present an overview of the most promising solutions to water scarcity facing Maghreb agriculture within three distinctive frameworks: increasing water resources, water economy, and water productivity with a common focus on environment sustainability. Up to date innovative approaches such as IoT, drones, micro-meteorological devices, smart irrigation systems and irrigation management strategies, desalination, wastewater recycling, genetics…etc. are widely exposed and their adaptation to Maghreb agricultural context thoroughly discussed. These tools, combined with sustainable policy frameworks and community awareness-raising offer promising solutions for managing water resources efficiently and sustainably. This paper is a humble contribution to a large strategic research and development plan aimed at solving the long-term environmental and economic sustainability challenges lying ahead for the Maghreb region.

错误:搜索内容不能为空,请输入英文关键词
错误:关键词超出字数限制,请精简
高级检索

Innovation Tools to the Rescue of Water Scarcity in the Maghreb

  • Jihane Abdessadak,
  • Ziyad Zeggaf Tahiri,
  • Adel Zeggaf Tahiri

摘要

The Maghreb structural water resource’s scarcity combined with contemporary recurrent droughts plaguing the region are causing increased tensions among water users, namely urban, industrial and agricultural water sectors. Since the latter is the major water use sector in the Maghreb (more than 80%), we believe related innovative thinking, strategies, technologies, techniques and initiatives are set to participate actively in solving this vital challenge. In fact, numerous research axis, technological tools, resilient practices, and water management strategies have been or still being studied, developed and extended to farmers in the last decades at different scales with various success levels. Being convinced not a single option alone will help overcome this challenge but a combination of solutions, we present an overview of the most promising solutions to water scarcity facing Maghreb agriculture within three distinctive frameworks: increasing water resources, water economy, and water productivity with a common focus on environment sustainability. Up to date innovative approaches such as IoT, drones, micro-meteorological devices, smart irrigation systems and irrigation management strategies, desalination, wastewater recycling, genetics…etc. are widely exposed and their adaptation to Maghreb agricultural context thoroughly discussed. These tools, combined with sustainable policy frameworks and community awareness-raising offer promising solutions for managing water resources efficiently and sustainably. This paper is a humble contribution to a large strategic research and development plan aimed at solving the long-term environmental and economic sustainability challenges lying ahead for the Maghreb region.