Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    US employment cost index 3.6% up in year to June 2025    Egypt welcomes Canada, Malta's decision to recognise Palestinian state    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Sterling set for sharpest monthly drop since 2022    Egypt, Brazil sign deal to boost pharmaceutical cooperation    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Egypt exports first high-tech potato seeds to Uzbekistan after opening market    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Water? What water?
Published in Almasry Alyoum on 10 - 12 - 2009

Modern science tells us that our resources are not infinite. Nevertheless, the notion of securing the world's fresh-water supply has disappeared from global discussions about the environment.
In November, the water issue was removed from the text used by international leaders to negotiate an agreement on mitigating the effects of climate change. Water, therefore, is not among the topics being discussed at the ongoing Copenhagen climate summit.
Throughout history, wars have been fought over water. Today, more than a billion people lack access to clean water. With melting icecaps, rising ocean and sea levels and the possibility of catastrophic events such as floods, future conflicts could very well be triggered by water-related issues.
What the ancients knew appears to elude today's world leaders. The ankh, or key of life, was the symbol of the Nile--a blessing of fresh water bestowed upon Egyptians.
Most of today's climate change activists agree that humans will not be able to fully reverse the phenomenon's effects. Nevertheless, we can take steps to reduce--and prepare for--the consequences.
In Egypt, this primarily relates to securing the country's fresh water supply.
"Whatever there is in the form of water uses, let's use them productively," said Paul Weber, irrigation agronomist at the Agriculture Ministry. Weber, who also works in the GTZ-Cairo office (which liaises between the Egyptian and German governments), says the focus in the past was to increase the amount of water available to match the needs of the country. But since the population has swelled as the amount of arable land has dwindled, preserving what's available has become a priority.
"The priority in Egyptian agrarian and water policy does not focus anymore on the absolute increase of production without considering the limitation of water and soil resources," Weber wrote in his 2007 book, "Is Egypt facing a water crisis?" "It rather has to be directed toward an increase of water productivity."
According to Weber, of the 13 billion cubic meters that flow into the Mediterranean Sea from the Nile River each year, about five billion could be used to increase the country's water supply.
Another scientist, however, ruled out this option due to its potential environmental impact. Ahmed el-Beheiry of the Cairo-based Agricultural Research Center warned of the potentially adverse effects on Mediterranean fishing and farming on the North Coast. "Consider the ecosystem," he said.
To efficiently manage Egypt's water resources, the main challenge relates to agriculture, which accounts for the lion's share of the country's water usage. Farms use roughly 25 times the amount of water--some 38.5 billion cubic meters per year--as consumers and industries combined, according to government figures.
Between the Aswan High Dam and the Mediterranean, Egypt loses water at almost every step: in conveyance, distribution, application and evaporation. Weber estimates that 2.4 billion cubic meters of water is lost each year due to "non-productive evaporation" alone. "Other countries would be happy to have this for their total amount of water," he said.
Discussions about water conservation often revolve around the different types of crops grown in Egypt, such as rice and sugar cane--both of which require relatively large amounts of water. Both are also recognized worldwide as "strategic crops." If Egypt switched to less water-intensive crops like fruits and vegetables--which nevertheless fetch high prices on export markets--the country would become more dependent on agricultural surplus countries for its strategic crops. Egypt already relies on imports of wheat and edible oils, as well as cattle.
Increasing production of tomatoes and strawberries, for example, is risky for a few reasons. If global supplies of rice and sugar drop, or if demand increases, Egypt will have to pay more to import it. If European markets demand less fruits and vegetables in the winter, Egypt could be stuck with a stock of perishable goods--and less money to import necessities like rice and sugar.
Weber proposes that the government revamp its system of distribution. His plan takes distribution from government controlled pumping stations and puts it in the hands of water-user associations comprised of local committees of farmers. Weber argues the latter would more efficiency distribute water and conduct maintenance on their equipment with the right economic incentives.
Organizations such as USAID, the World Bank and GTZ have lobbied the Egyptian government for several years to amend Law 12/1984 to allow water-user associations to control distribution. The law is controversial, he says, because it risks giving too much power to local organizations. "Hundreds of groups, thousands of feddans--that's a small town," he said. "There is power--people's power."
The idea also touches on the politically sensitive issue of the privatization of agriculture. By handing over control of water distribution and subcontracting work to local organizations, the government is effectively privatizing water on farmland.
Unfortunately, there is no panacea to Egypt's water usage problems. Some development organizations have urged farmers to use drip irrigation instead of flooding, but this has only proven successful at a micro level.
Scientists believe that Egypt's water supply is already showing signs of being affected by climate change. The Delta is sinking at a rate of three millimeters per year, while Weber estimates that the Mediterranean is rising by one centimeter annually. This could eventually destroy much Delta farmland, displace some 20 million people and ruin the country's food supply.
For this reason, environmental experts and activists are urging Egypt to take steps to preserve its water now--before it runs out.
"I don't believe there's a lot we can do to stop the sea level from rising," Mohamed el-Raey, chairman of the Environment Committee at the Supreme Council of Egyptian Universities, told Al-Masry Al-Youm. "What we can do is start using our resources more efficiently and begin investing in new technologies."
"Adaptation means that everyone, especially governments, should act now," he added.


Clic here to read the story from its source.