With AI drones and data, Tunisia’s startups battle water crisis

A man takes some drinkable water from a source in Sidi Bou Said, north of Tunis, on April 12, 2023. Tunisians are on the frontlines of a battle against an increasingly severe drought, now in its fifth year in the North African country, with the government issuing a sudden order to its population to ration their water usage for six months - or risk fines or jail. — AP

SMINJA, Tunisia: From soil sensors to AI-powered drones, entrepreneurs in Tunisia are equipping farmers with tech tools and data to help the vital agriculture sector weather the country's worsening water crisis.

The North African nation is enduring its fourth consecutive year of drought – as intensifying climate change affects rainfall in the region – threatening the agriculture industry that is critical for its food security and struggling economy.