It is imperative to put in place a digital database on soil characteristics so as to improve agricultural indicators and draw up maps in a more accurate way while linking them with protected agricultural land maps in different governorates, said Secretary of State in charge of water resources Ridha Gabouj. The official was addressing a national conference on the follow-up of soil health and information systems in sustainable water and soil management held Wednesday in Sousse on the theme " Soil and Water, Source of Life." He said his department started setting out key elements supporting the role and position of the soil, as part of the National Plan for the Rehabilitation and the Conservation of Agricultural Land. He also laid emphasis on the role of the soil as a crucial element in increasing the productivity of agricultural land, thus contributing to agricultural development mainly in light of climate change and water stress. The strategy adopted helped promote the sustainable water and soil managemen t by means of involving all stakeholders in raising awareness about the vulnerability of resources and the need to enhance good practices so as to protect soils and improve their productivity. Tunisia implemented Prosol, the GIZ-funded Soil Protection and Rehabilitation project (ProSOL). The project is part of the World Programme for Soil Protection and Rehabilitation for Food Security launched within the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development's Special Initiative One World-No Hunger. The programme is implemented in seven countries, including Tunisia, and is designed to carry out the national plan for sustainable soil protection and rehabilitation in the north and central western areas. Target areas are mainly Béja, Jendouba, Siliana, El Kef, Kairouan, Kassarine and Sidi Bouzid. The conference is organised at the initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture to mark World Soil Day (December 5). Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse