Wiem Taieb, a Master's student at the library of the National Agronomic Institute of Tunisia (INAT), keenly leafs through botanical literature. Wiem, an agricultural engineer specializing in plant pathology, is pursuing advanced studies in irrigation and drainage techniques this year.
She has skills she is passionate about: "I trained as a drone pilot, which allowed me to complete my engineering graduation project on protection against the red palm weevil," says Wiem, from Gafsa, some 360 kilometers south of Tunis.
She plans to take on a new project on using drones to manage irrigation systems with a high impact on crops and the phytosanitary situation of plants and orchards.
In partnership with the African Development Bank and the Korea-Africa Economic Fund (KOAFEC), the Tunisian government launched a pilot program in 2018 to use this technology in agriculture. Using drones can also increase the income of Tunisian farmers and contribute to food security, adapting to climate change and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions.
Wiem was among some 40 Tunisians who were trained as drone pilots under the program.
Like other countries in North Africa, Tunisia is grappling with rising heat, which has impacted its water resources, resulting in droughts. It has therefore become necessary to improve the productivity of farms.
"Intelligent resource management using drones is very useful for decision-making, management and processing of the entire production chain," Wiem said.
She is part of a new generation of Tunisian students seeking new approaches to transforming their country's agriculture in the wake of the effects of climate change. To help them achieve their goals, INAT comes in handy with a fully equipped center that houses five laboratories and a research unit. The facility is known for providing solutions to agroecology and agro-industry, considered the two pillars of Tunisian agriculture.
With the assistance of the South Korean government agency Busan Techno Park, drone deployment was piloted in 2019 around Sidi Bouzid, 250 km southwest of Tunis. The pilot provided early key information that could optimize irrigation systems and fertilizers, as well as early detection of diseases that affect agricultural production, and improve, through the updating of statistical data, decision-making.
Recalling the pilot drone program and the benefits, Wiem said: "I am very proud to be among these pioneers. And I hope to contribute to the development of agriculture in my country."
