CAIRO: 21 million agricultural-water users are expected to benefit from a joint-project to decentralize water authority and integrate water management in 3.4 million feddans of Egyptian agricultural land. The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation (MWRI) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) celebrated the successful completion of the joint venture, according to a US embassy press release on Thursday. “USAID recognizes the multi-dimensional, paramount importance of water to the Egyptian people and economy and we count our longstanding partnership with the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation as the primary way we can support the people of Egypt to use water resources in the most productive manner.” stated the USAID Mission Director, Mr. Walter North. The reach of the “Life/Water Project” covers nearly 42% of Egypt's irrigated land and strives to manage all irrigation, drainage, and ground water through the establishment of 72 localized Integrated Water Management Districts (IWMDs). Branch Canal Water User Associations (BCWUAs) have been formed with each district in an effort to promote user participation in the project. “Before we had an association, water was always uncertain and I could only grow fodder. Now I grow cucumbers and earn substantially more from the same land.” said one farmer in the press release. USAID plans to continue supporting the project by directly funding the Ministry of Training Center, which promotes decentralization of water authority and direct user participation. The agency has also pledged to finance the MWRI in a project to rehabilitate two canals in Upper Egypt and the Nile Delta. BM
