Abstract

The objective of this study was to measure the efficiency level of Water Users Associations (WUAs) in the coastal oases of Gabès (South-Est of Tunisia) and assessing its main determinants. First, an input-oriented data envelopment analysis (DEA) was used to measure the relative efficiency scores of WUAs and to evaluate the management and maintenance costs sub-vectors efficiencies separately through a mathematical modification in the initial DEA specification. In a second stage, critical determinants of sub-vector efficiency are determined by applying a Tobit model. A key finding of the study is that WUAs are clearly inefficient. Results show that on average, 38% of the used inputs could be saved if the WUAs operated on the frontier. The inefficiency found can be mainly attributed to the number of water pumping stations managed, the ratio of water losses and WUAs' age. The results also show a discrepancy between the technical efficiency values calculated under the CRS and VRS assumptions, resulting in a 20% scale inefficiency. The study also revealed that the sub-vector inefficiency of WUAs is more linked with engineering inefficiencies than to their management inefficiencies.

Highlights

  • Water scarcity has become a main challenge for the world, with increasing demand resulting from the growing population, accelerating economic development, and rapid urbanization (Yilmaz et al, 2009; Zhou et al, 2017)

  • This method is based on linear programming techniques that define the production function and determine the efficiency frontier of a set of decision-making units (DMUs)

  • Improvement of internal management efficiency should be the first option for reducing operating costs for the W5U0

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Water scarcity has become a main challenge for the world, with increasing demand resulting from the growing population, accelerating economic development, and rapid urbanization (Yilmaz et al, 2009; Zhou et al, 2017). Irrigation water is becoming an increasingly scarce resource for agriculture in Tunisia and in many regions of the world (Hamza, 2008; Abdelhafidh and Bachta, 2016; Ben Nasr and Bachta, 2018; Mahdhi et al, 2011; Mahdhi and Sghaier, 2013; Zema et al, 2018; Mahdhi et al, 2019). 1/2021 lion m3 comes from annual rivers in the north, 0.7 billion m3 from groundwater in the Centre, plains and coastal areas, and about 1.3 billion m3 from the deep groundwater mainly in the south (MA-Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, 2016). Water resources are unevenly distributed across the country, with around 60% in the north, 18% in the center and 22% in the south (MA, 2016). Water resources with a salinity lower than 1.5 g/liter are distributed as follows: 72% of surface water resources, 8% of shallow groundwater and 20% of deep groundwater (Louati, 2008; MA, 2013)

Objectives
Methods
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call