ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF WATER AND SOIL CONSERVATION NATIONAL STRATEGY IN THE TUNISIAN ARID AREA OF EL HAMMA

Most local Mediterranean regions are suffering from a very alarming depopulation and desertification processes. This problem has been treated depending on the characteristics of each country. Regions most affected are deficient of solid development projects, with a rural and desertlike character. Tunisian Southern can be a very typical case where the agricultural sector represents the unique solution and alternative of local development. The main purpose of this research is to contribute to the assessment of the impact of water and soil conservation techniques, undertaken as part of Project Planning Integrated Anti-erosion in the watershed of Oued Soukra (El Hamma), done in 2009, and of the agrarian reforms resulting from this project, in terms of social welfare, economical income of farmers and local development of this study area.