Agriculture in Tunisia faces several obstacles in terms of production and distribution of products. In this context and in order to address the problems of a sector as vital as it is complicated, Enactus ENIT has taken action by launching its new project: SOUAQI FARMS.
ENIT Enactus Club
Enactus ENIT club is made up of a team of young engineers from the National Engineering School of Tunis. It works on social entrepreneurship projects that aim to have social, environmental and economic impacts by being part of an international non-profit organization.
A way forward in agriculture in Tunisia
As mentioned, agriculture in Tunisia is facing a multitude of complications crowned by the great water scarcity that the country is seeing. Indeed, the amount of water per citizen in Tunisia is 2 times lower than the world average according to the Ministry of Agriculture. This explains the low yield of crop production in the country. In addition, another crucial but hardly visible parameter is not respected: the spacing between rows and lines of crops, hence the low yields of the agricultural sector compared to the costs.
In addition, the excessive use of pesticides will eventually harm consumers. 33 pesticides banned in Europe are still used in Tunisia.
This avalanche of problems has had a very negative impact on the quality of life of the consumer, both financially and in terms of health. This is the origin of the idea of SOUAQI FARMS, a project that specialises in soil-less agriculture – hydroponics – and that can provide a radical solution to this farming problem.
Hydroponics, agriculture without soil!
Hydroponics is a technique that allows cultivation without soil. From then on, water is used to provide the necessary nutrients for the plants, as well as being a source of hydration and oxygen. On the one hand, this technique allows a relentless optimization of water (90% less consumption than the traditional cultivation method) because the water is constantly recycled.
In addition, the products produced by this method are excluded from any chemical product that could harm the quality of the product or the health of the consumer. Production is also multiplied by 3 to 10 when it comes to hydroponics.
A project with a noble goal
The initiators of this project are three young doctoral students in biology and qualified trainers in hydroponics. With no lack of motivation or determination, this team and qualified trainers in collaboration with Enactus ENIT are running a hydroponic farm.
The SOUAQI project aims to solve the problems of pesticide use, water scarcity and to popularise the concept of hydroponics in Tunisia. This project ensures :
A sales network for unprocessed organic agricultural products.
A popularisation of the concept of hydroponics through training for amateurs of this new approach and agripreneurs.
The launch of hydroponic projects: 9 hydroponic projects have been launched in the four corners of Tunisia
Conclusion
SOUAQI is a promising and innovative project in Tunisian agriculture. Not only does it make it possible to popularise this modern agricultural technique at a time when it is most needed, but it also makes it possible to combine engineering, agriculture, the hydroponics system and the internet in order to significantly improve the yield and quality of agriculture.
