Toward Sustainable Water Resources Management in the Tunisian Citrus Sector: Impact of Pricing Policies on Water Resources Reallocation

This study aims to analyse Tunisian farmers’ ability pay (ATP) in a citrus area and propose penalising price strategy based on the block-pricing process decrease over-irrigation without affecting incomes. The methodology is residual imputation approach determine ATP, stochastic production frontier estimate technical efficiency optimal water irrigation quantity calculation of elasticity demand for an effective penalty Gini index before after penalisation equity improvement. A survey was carried out sample 147 farms Nabeul Governorate, Northeastern Tunisia. analysis confirms that 5000 m3/ha guarantees maximisation yields profits. Above this quantity, amount overused could be penalised significantly Results also reveal overconsumption represents 28% available resources ATP varies according efficiency. Therefore, proposed system reduce by 44.56% deteriorating agricultural welfare. To improve management as well welfare, recommends increase level optimise all factors any implemented pricing policy.