Irey Aqua Expands Smart Irrigation to Vegetable Crops in Tunisia
Par Rédaction Flash Radio | | Catégorie : Actualité
Improving irrigation management and reducing water consumption in Tunisian agriculture through digital tools and scientific data.
The fourth generation of the Irey Aqua application aims to improve irrigation management and reduce water consumption in Tunisian agriculture. It was presented in Tunis on September 18, 2026, at the closing workshop of the Presto project, supported by the Italian Cooperation. The new version of the application extends the use of this platform, developed by the National Institute of Large Crops (INGC), to help manage water in vegetable crops. This extension was identified as one of the technological tools aimed at combating water stress in the Tunisian agricultural sector from the early stages of the Presto project. The system uses data from agrometeorological stations, soil moisture and salinity sensors, observations on pilot plots, satellite data, and water and soil analyses. The goal is to provide farmers with more precise guidance for irrigation scheduling—from frequency to duration of interventions—while optimizing water resource use. The development of the new version of Irey Aqua is the result of collaboration between the General Directorate of Rural Engineering and Water Management (DGGREE), INGC, and the National Research Council's Institute of Bioeconomy (CNR-IBE), within the framework of the technical and scientific cooperation related to Presto. The project is funded by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), and implemented through a partnership coordinated by the European Committee for Education and Agriculture (Cefa). The partnership brings together the Institute for University Cooperation (Icu), CNR-IBE, the National Agency for Agricultural Extension and Training (AVFA), DGGREE, and the Tunisian Association for Environmental Law (ATDE). Presto benefits from a €2.8 million funding from the Italian Cooperation and focuses its activities in the governorates of Bizerte, Nabeul, Jendouba, and Mahdia, with the aim of strengthening the capacity of communities and institutions.