Tabia [Tunisia]
- Creation:
- Update:
- Compiler: Mongi Ben Zaied
- Editor: –
- Reviewer: Deborah Niggli
technologies_1420 - Tunisia
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Expand all Collapse all1. General information
1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Technology
Key resource person(s)
SLM specialist:
Sghaier Mongi
+216 75 633 005
Institut des Régions Arides IRA
4119- medenine north tunisia
Tunisia
SLM specialist:
Chniter Mongi
+216 75 633 005
Commissariats Régionaux au Développement Agricole CRDA
4100 Medenine, Tunisia
Tunisia
SLM specialist:
Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
DESIRE (EU-DES!RE)Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
Institut des Régions Arides de Médenine (Institut des Régions Arides de Médenine) - TunisiaName of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)
Commissariats Régionaux au Développement Agricole (CRDA) - Tunisia1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT
When were the data compiled (in the field)?
05/07/2011
The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:
Yes
1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches
![Dryland watershed management approach](/media/96/b/96bb1589-6e90-46dd-8144-2d6755e8888b.jpg)
Dryland watershed management approach [Tunisia]
Integrated land and water management approach, including vegetative, management, and agronomic measure
- Compiler: Naceur Mahdi
2. Description of the SLM Technology
2.1 Short description of the Technology
Definition of the Technology:
The tabia earthen dyke is a water harvesting technique used in the foothill and piedmont areas.
2.2 Detailed description of the Technology
Description:
The tabia technology is similar to the jessour system but is used in the gently-sloping foothill and piedmont areas. It is considered to be a relatively new technique, developed by mountain dwellers who migrated to the plains. Tabias, like jessour, comprise an earthen dyke (50-150 m in length, 1-2 m in height), a spillway (central and/or lateral) and an associated water harvesting area. The ratio between the area where water is applied (cropped area) and the total area from which water is collected varies from 1:6 to 1:20. The differences between the tabia and the jessour systems are that the former contains two additional lateral bunds (up to 30 m long) and sometimes a small flood diversion dyke (mgoud). Small tabia are constructed manually using shovels, pickles and carts. Larger constructions are done mechanically using tractors and bulldozers.
Purpose of the Technology: Tree products and annual crops are commonly grown using tabia. Besides their water harvesting qualities, tabias also have a positive effect on soil erosion and groundwater recharge.
Natural / human environment: The tabia runoff-water harvesting technique is widely practised in central Tunisia. Tabias are usually installed on the piedmont, where the slope does not exceed 3% and where the soil is relatively deep. Ancient remnants of tabias have been found in the region of Gafsa (south west Tunisia). The system has been adopted by people living in the neighbouring foothills and plains of the central and southeastern regions (Jeffara) of the country, following the transformation of their pasture to cultivated fields.
2.3 Photos of the Technology
2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment
Country:
Tunisia
Region/ State/ Province:
Medenine
Further specification of location:
Medenine nord
Map
×2.6 Date of implementation
If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:
- 10-50 years ago
2.7 Introduction of the Technology
Specify how the Technology was introduced:
- through projects/ external interventions
3. Classification of the SLM Technology
3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied
![Cropland](/static/assets/img/pictos/land_1.png)
Cropland
- Tree and shrub cropping
![Grazing land](/static/assets/img/pictos/land_5.png)
Grazing land
Comments:
Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): soil erosion by water, runoff and soil loss
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): overgrazing
3.3 Further information about land use
Comments:
Water supply: rainfed, mixed rainfed - irrigated
Number of growing seasons per year:
- 1
Specify:
Longest growing period in days: 180Longest growing period from month to month: Oct - Apr
3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs
- water harvesting
3.5 Spread of the Technology
Specify the spread of the Technology:
- evenly spread over an area
If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, indicate approximate area covered:
- 10-100 km2
3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology
![structural measures](/static/assets/img/pictos/swc_1_struc.png)
structural measures
- S2: Bunds, banks
Comments:
Main measures: structural measures
3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology
![soil erosion by water](/static/assets/img/pictos/degra_watererosion.png)
soil erosion by water
- Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion
- Wg: gully erosion/ gullying
Comments:
Main type of degradation addressed: Wt: loss of topsoil / surface erosion
Secondary types of degradation addressed: Wg: gully erosion / gullying
Main causes of degradation: Heavy / extreme rainfall (intensity/amounts), land tenure
Secondary causes of degradation: overgrazing, population pressure
3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation
Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:
- prevent land degradation
- reduce land degradation
Comments:
Main goals: prevention of land degradation
Secondary goals: mitigation / reduction of land degradation
4. Technical specifications, implementation activities, inputs, and costs
4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology
4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing
Tabia with natural water collection area (upper) and tabia on an expanded system with additional flood water diversions (lower). (Adapted from Alaya et al. 1993)
Found in flatter areas, tabia can accommodate more trees on the terrace especially when it can receive additional water from floods.
south east Tunisia
Date: January 2009
Technical knowledge required for field staff / advisors: moderate
Technical knowledge required for land users: moderate
Main technical functions: control of concentrated runoff: retain / trap
Secondary technical functions: increase of infiltration, water harvesting / increase water supply, water spreading
Diversion ditch/ drainage
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 2
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 2-5
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 10-30
Spillway
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 1
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 5
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 2-4
Bund/ bank: graded
Vertical interval between structures (m): 3
Spacing between structures (m): 100
Height of bunds/banks/others (m): 2
Width of bunds/banks/others (m): 2-5
Length of bunds/banks/others (m): 50-150
Construction material (earth): Main dyke
Construction material (stone): Spillway
Construction material (concrete): Spillway
Construction material (other): Gabion: Diversion dyke
Lateral gradient along the structure: 1%
For water harvesting: the ratio between the area where the harvested water is applied and the total area from which water is collected is: 1:4
4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs
other/ national currency (specify):
TND
Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:
1.3
Indicate average wage cost of hired labour per day:
10.00
4.4 Establishment activities
Activity | Type of measure | Timing | |
---|---|---|---|
1. | Diversion channel | Structural | in the case of tabia on spreading system |
2. | Plantation | Structural | |
3. | Spillway construction | Structural | |
4. | Terracing | Structural |
4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment
Specify input | Unit | Quantity | Costs per Unit | Total costs per input | % of costs borne by land users | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Labour | ha | 1.0 | 500.0 | 500.0 | 100.0 |
Construction material | ha | 1.0 | 170.0 | 170.0 | 100.0 | |
Total costs for establishment of the Technology | 670.0 |
Comments:
Duration of establishment phase: 1 month(s)
4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities
Activity | Type of measure | Timing/ frequency | |
---|---|---|---|
1. | Dyke and spillway maintenance | Structural | Annually |
2. | Reconstruction | Structural |
4.7 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)
Specify input | Unit | Quantity | Costs per Unit | Total costs per input | % of costs borne by land users | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Labour | Labour | ha | 1.0 | 150.0 | 150.0 | 100.0 |
Construction material | ha | 1.0 | 50.0 | 50.0 | 100.0 | |
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology | 200.0 |
Comments:
The technology establishment and maintenance costs met by the land users are 100% if executed on a private basis, but it can range from 10 to 50% when the site is part of a publicly-funded programme.
4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs
Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:
Labour is the most determining factor affecting the costs.
5. Natural and human environment
5.1 Climate
Annual rainfall
- < 250 mm
- 251-500 mm
- 501-750 mm
- 751-1,000 mm
- 1,001-1,500 mm
- 1,501-2,000 mm
- 2,001-3,000 mm
- 3,001-4,000 mm
- > 4,000 mm
Agro-climatic zone
- arid
Thermal climate class: subtropics
5.2 Topography
Slopes on average:
- flat (0-2%)
- gentle (3-5%)
- moderate (6-10%)
- rolling (11-15%)
- hilly (16-30%)
- steep (31-60%)
- very steep (>60%)
Landforms:
- plateau/plains
- ridges
- mountain slopes
- hill slopes
- footslopes
- valley floors
Altitudinal zone:
- 0-100 m a.s.l.
- 101-500 m a.s.l.
- 501-1,000 m a.s.l.
- 1,001-1,500 m a.s.l.
- 1,501-2,000 m a.s.l.
- 2,001-2,500 m a.s.l.
- 2,501-3,000 m a.s.l.
- 3,001-4,000 m a.s.l.
- > 4,000 m a.s.l.
5.3 Soils
Soil depth on average:
- very shallow (0-20 cm)
- shallow (21-50 cm)
- moderately deep (51-80 cm)
- deep (81-120 cm)
- very deep (> 120 cm)
Soil texture (topsoil):
- medium (loamy, silty)
Topsoil organic matter:
- low (<1%)
If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.
Soil fertility is: very low
Soil drainage/infiltration is: medium
Soil water storage is: medium
5.4 Water availability and quality
Ground water table:
5-50 m
Availability of surface water:
medium
Water quality (untreated):
poor drinking water (treatment required)
Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:
Water quality (untreated): Poor drinking water (treatement required/medium quality)
5.5 Biodiversity
Species diversity:
- medium
5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology
Market orientation of production system:
- mixed (subsistence/ commercial
Off-farm income:
- > 50% of all income
Relative level of wealth:
- poor
- average
Individuals or groups:
- individual/ household
Gender:
- men
Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:
Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users
Difference in the involvement of women and men: Outdoor hard works are generally performed by men.
Population density: 10-50 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 0.5% - 1%
10% of the land users are rich and own 10% of the land.
70% of the land users are average wealthy and own 75% of the land.
20% of the land users are poor and own 15% of the land.
5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology
- < 0.5 ha
- 0.5-1 ha
- 1-2 ha
- 2-5 ha
- 5-15 ha
- 15-50 ha
- 50-100 ha
- 100-500 ha
- 500-1,000 ha
- 1,000-10,000 ha
- > 10,000 ha
Is this considered small-, medium- or large-scale (referring to local context)?
- small-scale
5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights
Land ownership:
- individual, not titled
- individual, titled
Land use rights:
- individual
Water use rights:
- individual
5.9 Access to services and infrastructure
health:
- poor
- moderate
- good
education:
- poor
- moderate
- good
technical assistance:
- poor
- moderate
- good
employment (e.g. off-farm):
- poor
- moderate
- good
markets:
- poor
- moderate
- good
energy:
- poor
- moderate
- good
roads and transport:
- poor
- moderate
- good
drinking water and sanitation:
- poor
- moderate
- good
financial services:
- poor
- moderate
- good
6. Impacts and concluding statements
6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown
Socio-economic impacts
Production
crop production
risk of production failure
Income and costs
farm income
Other socio-economic impacts
Grazing land
Socio-cultural impacts
food security/ self-sufficiency
SLM/ land degradation knowledge
conflict mitigation
Improved livelihoods and human well-being
Ecological impacts
Water cycle/ runoff
harvesting/ collection of water
surface runoff
groundwater table/ aquifer
evaporation
Soil
soil loss
6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown
water availability
reliable and stable stream flows in dry season
downstream flooding
downstream siltation
damage on public/ private infrastructure
6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)
Gradual climate change
Gradual climate change
Season | Type of climatic change/ extreme | How does the Technology cope with it? | |
---|---|---|---|
annual temperature | increase | well |
Climate-related extremes (disasters)
Meteorological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it? | |
---|---|
local rainstorm | well |
local windstorm | well |
Climatological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it? | |
---|---|
drought | not well |
Hydrological disasters
How does the Technology cope with it? | |
---|---|
general (river) flood | not well |
Other climate-related consequences
Other climate-related consequences
How does the Technology cope with it? | |
---|---|
reduced growing period | well |
6.4 Cost-benefit analysis
How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?
Short-term returns:
negative
Long-term returns:
very positive
How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?
Short-term returns:
positive
Long-term returns:
very positive
6.5 Adoption of the Technology
Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many have did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?
- 50-90%
Comments:
35% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support
65% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support
There is a strong trend towards spontaneous adoption of the Technology
6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view |
---|
Improved production and expansion of cropping land. |
Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view |
---|
This technique allows a rapid expansion of cropping lands in the piedmont and flat areas How can they be sustained / enhanced? encourage maintenance of existing structure. |
Allows crop production in very dry environments (with less than 200 mm of rainfall) How can they be sustained / enhanced? encourage maintenance of existing structure. |
Collects and accumulates water, soil and nutrients behind the tabia and makes it available to crops How can they be sustained / enhanced? encourage maintenance of existing structure. |
Reduced damage by flooding How can they be sustained / enhanced? encourage maintenance of existing structure. |
6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view | How can they be overcome? |
---|---|
Expansion is done at the expense of natural grazing land. |
Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view | How can they be overcome? |
---|---|
Risks related to the climatic changes | it needs to be combined with supplementary irrigation. |
Drought spells | Supplemental irrigation. |
Land ownership fragmentation | new land access / agrarian reform. |
Productivity of the land is very low | development of alternative income generation activities. |
Risk of local know-how disappearance | training of new generations. |
7. References and links
7.2 References to available publications
Title, author, year, ISBN:
Alaya, K., Viertmann, W., Waibel, Th. 1993. Les tabias. Imprimerie Arabe de Tunisie, Tunis, Tunisia. 192 pp.
Available from where? Costs?
IRA
Title, author, year, ISBN:
Ben Mechlia, N., Ouessar, M. 2004. Water harvesting systems in Tunisia. In: Oweis, T., Hachum, A., Bruggeman, A. (eds). Indigenous water harvesting in West Asia and North Africa, , ICARDA, Aleppo, Syria, pp: 21-41
Available from where? Costs?
IRA, ICARDA
Title, author, year, ISBN:
Ennabli, N. 1993. Les aménagements hydrauliques et hydro-agricoles en Tunisie. Imprimerie Officielle de la République Tunisienne, Tunis, 255 pp.
Available from where? Costs?
IRA, INAT
Title, author, year, ISBN:
Genin, D., Guillaume, H., Ouessar, M., Ouled Belgacem, A., Romagny, B., Sghaier, M., Taamallah, H. (eds) 2006. Entre la désertification et le développement : la Jeffara tunisienne. CERES, Tunis, 351 pp.
Available from where? Costs?
IRA, IRD
Title, author, year, ISBN:
Nasri, S. 2002. Hydrological effects of water harvesting techniques. Ph.D. thesis, Lund University, Sweden, 104 pp.
Available from where? Costs?
IRA, INRGREF
Title, author, year, ISBN:
Sghaier, M., Mahdhi, N., De Graaff, J., Ouessar, M. 2002. Economic assessment of soil and water conservation works: case of the wadi Oum Zessar watershed in south-eastern Tunisia.TRMP paper n° 40, Wageningen University, The Netherlands, pp: 101-113.
Available from where? Costs?
IRA
Title, author, year, ISBN:
Ouessar M. 2007. Hydrological impacts of rainwater harvesting in wadi Oum Zessar watershed (Southern Tunisia). Ph.D. thesis, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium, 154 pp.
Available from where? Costs?
IRA
Links and modules
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![Dryland watershed management approach](/media/96/b/96bb1589-6e90-46dd-8144-2d6755e8888b.jpg)
Dryland watershed management approach [Tunisia]
Integrated land and water management approach, including vegetative, management, and agronomic measure
- Compiler: Naceur Mahdi
Modules
No modules