The government of Egypt has announced to have upgraded 2,017 km of irrigation canals as part of the first phase of the National Canals Rehabilitation Project. Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Mohamed Abdel Atty made the announcement and said the project aims to better manage water for agriculture in Egypt.
“An improvement in the quality of water in the canals was noted after the removal of weeds and the cessation of waste dumping in the canals. Another improvement was also noted in the increase in the market value of the agricultural land after the rehabilitation. This work will enable farmers to better manage the available water, by implementing modern and more water-efficient irrigation systems. The work is expected to accelerate in the coming months,” said Mohamed Abdel.
Persistent water stress
A total of 8,233 km of canals will be rehabilitated by mid-2022 in Egypt. The rehabilitated canals will also enable the country to cope with the persistent water stress it is facing. In response to water stress, the Egyptian government plans to impose taxes on irrigation water pumped from the country’s rivers, including the Nile.
The law under discussion stipulates that each farmer will have to pay about US $16 per year, or more than US $79.6 over five years, to obtain an operating licence. Egypt also plans to reduce water-intensive crops to preserve the Nile, which provides 85% of the country’s water needs.
