Context

El Alaa municipality is a rural area mainly cultivated with olive or fruit trees and market gardening.

The region is strongly impacted by climate change, particularly with the depletion of water sources during dry periods. These issues are even worsened by increased irrigated areas of horticultural crops. Conflicts on water access in dry periods is worsened by the development of solar energy for pumping.

WEFE Nexus adaptation solutions:

Technical innovations

• Implement the HSTI soil moisture sensors to optimise irrigation

• Implement the OASIS App for farmers to assess sustainability and share the best practices

• Monitor irrigation through computer applications for the surface water use

• Energy management through photovoltaic panels to exploit lakes

• Use rainwater to limit erosion and runoff and silting of lakes

• Use organic fertilisation by mixing: oil mill waste, cactus, pruned wood to limit evaporation, regulate soil temperature and improve soil quality

• Introduce local composting

• Strengthen biodiversity through the introduction of market gardening and fodder crops

Organisational innovation

• Diversification of production

• Use of a multi-stakeholder platform

• Networking of the mutual agricultural service society with producers and consumers