Who we are? MEDISS presents the Tunisian partner: Institut des Régions Arides de Médenine (IRA)
Created under the term of the law No. 76/6 of 7 January 1976, IRA is mandated to conduct the needed research to develop the agricultural sector, the protection and conservation of natural resources and the fight against desertification in arid and desert regions.
Main mandate:
Undertake researches for the development of the agricultural sector, conservation of natural resources and combating desertification in the dry areas
Training and capacity building of technicians and specialists in dry land agriculture and combat desertification
Contribution to the extension efforts for the agricultural sector and the conservation and development of natural resources
Provide assistance and expertise for the development projects in the area.
IRA has five laboratories:
- Laboratory of Livestock & Wildlife of the Dry and Saharan Regions
- Laboratory of rainfed farming and oasis cropping
- Laboratory of Rangeland Ecology of the Dry and Saharan Regions
- Laboratory of Agricultural Economics and Rural Societies
- Laboratory of Eremology and Combating Desertification
The main missions of the laboratory are:
- Inventory and monitoring of desertification
- Wind erosion and sand encroachment control
- Conservation and valorization of water and soil resources
- Desertification monitoring and climate change impacts
- Development of water saving and management techniques
- Improvement of soil physical and chemical characteristics
Ira Staff involved in the project:
Saifeddine ETURKI Gouider ATALLAH Faiza KHALFELLI
Project coordinator Financial reporting assistant Communication expert
Ferjani BESSAOUD Rim WERHENI Ahmed DHIAB
Facilitator Technician in soil analysis and microbiology Technician
Feryel HAJJAJI
Researcher