International Migration, Remittances, Climate Change Adaptation Practices, and Agricultural Sustainability in Coastal Oases (Southeastern Tunisia)

In the arid regions of southeastern Tunisia, international migration—often driven by declining agricultural yields due to climate change—can be associated with strengthening the resilience of agro-systems through the valorization of migratory assets, particularly remittances invested in adaptation practices that support agricultural sustainability. However, this relationship may become neutral or even negative when migrants do not engage in this process. This study aims to analyze the relationship between migration, remittances, climate change adaptation practices, and agricultural production in the coastal oases of southeastern Tunisia. The methodology relies on a literature review, a field survey of 212 households, and statistical and econometric analyses. The comparative analysis reveals differences between migrant and non-migrant households in financial resources, with agricultural sources significant at the 5% level and non-agricultural sources at the 10% level, as well as in adaptation practices, particularly soil fertilization and conservation (1%) and drip irrigation (5%). By contrast, the first econometric regression shows a positive association between migration and adoption of adaptation practices. The second regression, which analyzes the Cobb–Douglas function, demonstrates that production factors (K and L), adoption of adaptation practices, and migration are associated with a positive relationship with agricultural output. The migration coefficient (MIG) attains statistical significance only at the 10% threshold, since the 95% confidence interval [−0.02; 0.60] includes zero. At this level of significance, migration appears to be associated with the performance and sustainability of the agricultural system. After applying the Kennedy correction, the coefficient indicates that migrant households produce on average 31.9% more than non-migrant households. Financial flows, as a fundamental component of migration, are not statistically significant in the model. The study highlights both gaps and opportunities for adaptation through migration. Policies should further mobilize migrants to participate in climate change adaptation processes, particularly in vulnerable regions, by relying on reforms in agricultural investment, awareness-raising, extension services, and cooperative governance of land management.