Tunisia’s Farmer Woman Revives A Village From Drought!

In a small village in north Africa, where the landscape is a mix of parched fields and sporadic green plots, a quiet revolution is taking place. For years, farmers in the village of Ghardimaou watched their crops wither under the relentless sun, their lands desperate for water.

A six-year drought had taken its toll, and hope was rapidly fading. However, amidst this struggle, a local woman farmer chose to take action.

Saida Zouaoui grew up in this village, observing her father and grandfather’s unsuccessful attempts to build a simple reservoir using sandbags. Lacking the necessary infrastructure and funds, they were unable to make it work, but the idea stayed with her throughout the years.

As the years passed, the situation deteriorated. Traditional dikes that once irrigated 48 hectares of land in the 1970s and ‘80s could now barely support 12 hectares. Frustrated by their struggle to make a living from the arid soil, many young people migrated to the cities. Those who remained reduced the size of their farms and ceased growing water-intensive crops.

Faced with climate change and water shortages, farmers have started to lose faith in agriculture. Many have migrated to the cities, while others have completely abandoned the profession, as it no longer offers a stable source of income.

But this woman farmer had a vision. She imagined constructing a small dam that could change the fate of her village. When she proposed the idea to the authorities, however, they dismissed it as unfeasible.

Tunisia was grappling with debt and facing more pressing issues, yet she persisted, believing that this lifelong project would not only rejuvenate her farm but also revitalize the entire region.

Just as their ancestors once practiced this profession, they too must carry it on, along with their children and future generations of farmers. However, they must confront reality and adapt to the challenges posed by climate change.

Tunisia’s Farmer Woman Revives A Village From Drought — **Saida Zouaoui**

Finally, in 2019, after years of hard work, her vision began to materialize. With the help of foreign support, the European Union financed 90% of the funds required to construct the dam. Local farmers contributed the remaining 10% by offering their labour and resources to make the project a reality.

Their reality has transformed dramatically; today, they sell their produce, including peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, and various other vegetables. While their circumstances have improved, most of the remaining farmers are no longer seeking other jobs, as farming has become their primary profession.

The dam wasn’t large, measuring about the size of one and a half Olympic swimming pools and three meters deep. However, its impact was significant. It now irrigates 45 small farms, each roughly one to two hectares in size, utilizing a free rotation system for water access.

For the farmers, it was nothing short of a miracle. Residents report that this dam has enabled them to return to farming at 70% capacity. They no longer need to dig canals or rely on trucks or shovels to irrigate their fields. While everything now operates smoothly, their primary challenge remains climate change and water scarcity.

The project has restored hope to Ghardimaou. Water now flows through the village canals, helping the community endure Tunisia’s escalating droughts.

As the local woman farmer clears debris from the dam, she smiles and reflects that while she views this change as a catastrophe, they must confront it using their available resources, manage its risks, and maintain hope. She insists that she won’t give up, and the village relies on Saida Zouaoui to lead them forward.

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