Tunisian farmers grow crops using 'sandy' irrigation system - in pictures

The 'ramli' irrigation technique is used at Ghar El Melh in the north of the country and utilises rainwater that flows into the sandy areas around lagoons

A farmer works in his seaside field in the small fishing town of Ghar El Melh in northern Tunisia. AFP

Farmers in the lagoon town of Ghar El Melh in northern Tunisia are fighting to preserve a unique, traditional irrigation system that has sparked renewed interest as the country's water shortages intensify. AFP

Farmers in northern Tunisia's fishing town of Ghar El Melh have been using the 'ramli' technique of irrigation since the 17th century. AFP

Farmers in the lagoons of Ghar El Melh in northern Tunisia have learned to take advantage of the light, sandy soil and the fact that underground freshwater, which is lighter than seawater, 'floats' above the saltier groundwater below. AFP

Farmers in the town of Ghar El Melh in northern Tunisia use the 'ramli' technique of irrigation, which uses rainwater flowing into the sandy area around the lagoons. AFP

A farmer walks on his plot of land in the small fishing town of Ghar El Melh in northern Tunisia. AFP

When rainwater from the hills reaches the sandy area around Ghar El Melh’s lagoons, instead of mixing immediately with the brine below, it forms a thin layer of fresh groundwater. AFP

Twice a day, the tides of the Mediterranean raise the layers of fresh and saline water on Ghar El Melh's lagoons, bringing the precious freshwater in contact with the vegetables in the 'ramli' plots. AFP

'Ramli', or sandy, farms cover about 200 hectares and support around 300 people in northern Tunisia's lagoon town of Ghar El Melh. AFP

The farms of the Ghar El Melh's lagoons were last year included in the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation’s list of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems. AFP

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