A group of farmers from Libya’s southern region concluded a study tour to Tunisia, held from 20 to 26 September.
The tour was organized as part of the "Decision Support Platform for Improving Irrigation Water Productivity in Libya – MerWat-2" project, implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with relevant Libyan national institutions and funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).
MerWat is the ‘‘Monitoring, Evaluation and Rationalisation of Water Use of the Agricultural Sector in Libya’’ programme sponsored by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).
Participants included farmers from the Ghudwa Agricultural Project as well as other agricultural projects and areas in Fezzan. They visited various research and training institutions, as well as practical demonstration sites and farms across different regions of Tunisia.
The tour provided farmers with firsthand exposure to experiences in irrigation water management and water productivity, large-scale crop farming, soil management and health, dryland agriculture, date palm and oasis farming, and applied research and agricultural extension. They also examined various field technologies and practices, discussing them directly with Tunisian researchers, engineers, and farmers.
Direct interaction between the Libyan farmers and their Tunisian counterparts was a highlight of the tour. Participants discussed the suitability of the observed practices for the agricultural and water conditions in Fezzan, guided by the principle of understanding and evaluating experiences—and adapting suitable elements to local conditions—rather than simply replicating them verbatim.
The programme concluded with a reception at the FAO office in Tunisia, attended by officials and experts from the organization and its partners. This event gave farmers the opportunity to share their experiences and the benefits they had gained, emphasizing the importance of field visits and the exchange of expertise with researchers, technicians, and fellow farmers.
Follow-up with the participating farmers is planned for after their return to Libya to identify practices and techniques that can be implemented and tested on their farms. This aims to translate the knowledge gained during the trip into practical applications that support improved irrigation water productivity and sustainable soil and water management in southern Libya.
MerWat-Libya Geospatial Platform
It will be recalled that the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Libyan Ministries of Water Resources and Agriculture and Livestock, and the Libyan Centre for Remote Sensing and Space Science, unveiled the MerWat-Libya Geospatial Platform in March 2024.
The MerWat-Libya Geospatial Platform aims to enhance sustainable agriculture and water resource management in Libya. This initiative, supported by a € 830,000 grant from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI), embodies a commitment to leveraging technology for sustainable development.
The platform offers unparalleled access to geospatial data, facilitating informed decisions in crop and water management. It's a significant step towards sustainable agricultural practices and efficient water use, showcasing the power of international collaboration and technological innovation.