Tunisia's parliament has approved a bill aimed at regularizing the status of deep agricultural wells that were drilled without permits. The bill, which was approved with 79 votes in favor, 10 abstentions, and 7 against, seeks to integrate these wells into a legal framework that allows for the monitoring of water resource exploitation and helps prevent the depletion of groundwater.
The bill provides for the regularization of deep agricultural wells drilled before December 10, 2024, without a permit, in exchange for a financial fee of 3,500 dinars. This process will be governed by conditions and procedures set by a decree from the Minister of Water Resources. The deadline for submitting regularization requests is set for December 31, 2027.
The bill also allows farmers who have their well's status regularized to benefit from incentives provided by the state, including those outlined in the 2016 Investment Law and the 2017 law on the revision of the tax incentives system. This aims to support farmers in overcoming the challenges they face in implementing and developing their projects.
According to MP Hassan Al-Jarboui, one of the bill's sponsors, the initiative seeks to balance the state's sovereignty over its water resources with the realities faced by farmers, particularly small-scale farmers who have drilled wells without obtaining the necessary permits. He cited delays in administrative procedures and responses to drilling requests, which can take two to three years, as contributing factors.
Al-Jarboui emphasized that regularizing the status of these wells will enable farmers to access bank financing and benefit from incentives allocated to agricultural investments, helping them overcome obstacles to completing their projects. He also noted that many farmers with qualifications and training in agriculture are unable to obtain loans due to the lack of well permits or exploitation certificates.
During the general debate, MPs expressed mixed views on the bill, with some arguing that it addresses real challenges faced by farmers, particularly in internal regions and desert areas where water is essential for agricultural activities. Others stressed that while regularization is important, it is not sufficient to address the overall difficulties faced by the agricultural sector.
The bill's approval is seen as a step towards addressing some of the challenges faced by farmers in Tunisia, particularly with regard to access to water resources. However, concerns have been raised about the need for further measures to support the agricultural sector, including facilitating administrative procedures and providing financing for farmers and youth looking to launch projects.
Key points
- The bill aims to regularize the status of deep agricultural wells drilled without permits and integrate them into a legal framework for monitoring water resource exploitation.
