EGYPT BACKGROUND

1. Improve Efficiency inThe Agriculture Sector Using Water Demand Management Policies(Egypt National Report)By ATEF HAMDYCIHEAM/MEDITERRANEAN AGRONOMIC INSTITUTEBARI, ITALY

2. EGYPT BACKGROUND LOCATION: on the map AREA: One Million Square meters POPULATION: 72 millions AGRICULTURE AREA: 8 millions Feddan = 33600 KM2 = 3.4% of the total area WATER RESOURCES: Nile river; 55.5 BCM Rainfall; 1.3 BCM Shallow Groundwater 6.1 BCM Deep groundwater 0.9 BCM NORTH SOUTH

3. WATER AND AGRICULTURE AGRICULTURE DISTRIBUTION WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM OLD SYSTEM NARROW

4. AGRICULTURE EXPANSION PLAN 3.4 MILLION FEDDAN TO BE ADDED FROM 1997 UNTIL 2017

5. THREATS ON WATER RESOURCES POPULATION GROWTH AND WATER AVAILABILITY POPULATION GROWTH LIMITED WATER RESOURCES LIMITED LAND RESOURCES AMBITION DEVELOPMENT PLANS QUALITY DETERIORATION ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

6. WATER DEMAND MEASURES (1) 1. Improvement of irrigation efficiencies Apply modern irrigation techniques in all new development areas with light textured soils Control well discharges in desert areas Improve O&M activities through private participation (Water Boards and Water User Associations) Reduce irrigation supply after rainfall, combined with extra storage upstream from barrages in the Delta Prioritize efficiency measures Continue Irrigation Improvement Projects Provide Irrigation Advisory Services Apply canal lining in canal stretches that suffer from high leakage losses Apply laser land-levelling Apply controlled drainage during the cultivation of rice

7. WATER DEMAND MEASURES (2) 4. Reuse of drainage water Review the drainage water reuse policy of Egypt, including: • The application of intermediate reuse • The prioritisation of drainage water reuse • To allow higher permissible salinity of irrigation water after mixing with drainage water Promote the use of crops that are less sensitive to salinity 2. Horizontal expansion Make further horizontal expansion depending on the availability of additional water 3. Improve drainage conditions Continue sub-surface drainage program with the intent to implement the Integrated irrigation Improvement Management Project, IIIMP

8. WATER DEMAND MEASURES (3) 6. Institutional Measures Install Water Boards at Irrigation District level Continue set-up of Water User Associations at Mesqa level 7. Human Resources Development Training of MWRI and Water Board staff 5. Water Allocation Decentralisation of water allocation to be based on equal opportunities for farmers Allocation within region to be based on fixed annual amount per feddan and improve infrastructure Establish coordination system between MALR (and in future Water Boards) and MWRI to avoid mismatch between water supply and demand Seasonal supply to be laid down in an agreement between MWRI and Water Boards

9. WATER DEMAND MEASURES (4) 9. Maintenance Provide solid waste collection and disposal systems in rural areas Continue and intensify on-going mechanical weed control programs Introduce grass carp to control aquatic weed in canals wider than 6 metres in addition to normal mechanical control in smaller canals 8. Improvement physical infrastructure for proper water distribution Install discharge control structures at key points. Install modular discharge regulators at intakes of branch canals Install downstream control structures in branch canals Install additional weirs/cross regulators in the system where needed Rehabilitation and maintenance of distribution system

10. Conclusion Lessons learned and experience gained highlight the following: There is no one blue print on how to define and choose the most efficient use of water in a society, a strategic approach to improve water efficiency would involve at least the following four sets of actions: * developing the information required to make strategic choices * improving allocative efficiency at national level improving technical, productive, produce-choice efficiency at local level * linking local to regional and national plans We have to stop with fragmented sectoral water management approach towards and inclusive and integrated approach. While sectoral approaches are important, they may result in missing out on some of the promising opportunities to improve water productivity in rain fed areas, managing surface and ground water conjunctively and managing water supplies for multiple uses. In the future a purely sectoral approach to water management will no longer be possible

11. Conclusion Moving towards greater efficiency in the use and allocation of water will require practical solutions, technical approaches, appropriate enabling environment and institutional cooperation and coordination at many levels. Water demand management approach. There is a high potentiality for increasing the available water supply without any new infrastructure constructions, any additional financial cost as well as without opposing any social, environmental drawbacks Improving water efficiency requires a multi-facted approach that considers wider social issues and values as well as physical and technical concerns. Such an approach should be based on four key interrelated concepts: Technical efficiency, productive efficiency, product-choice efficiency and allocative efficiency Water efficiency can be improved using many approaches including investing in physical improvements, in infrastructural and technology, fostering change in user behaviour and developing integrated improvements in water management

12. EGYPT NATIONAL REPORT YOU THANK