More than 90% of Egypt is desert which is divided into two by the Nile River. The Nile valley and delta are the main centers of settlement and cultivation. Less than 10% of Egypt’s land area is suitable for cultivation and hence the need for irrigation.
The following are steps taken to improve irrigation farming in Egypt
- construction of water reservoir to supply water for irrigation
- reclaiming of dry land for crop farming to increase production
- intensive cultivation to increase the yield and thus offset the high cost of production
- controlling weeds using herbicides and thus increasing the farm yield
- strengthening of cooperatives to easily acquire loans to expand farms
- hiring labor during the peak period such as harvesting
- increasing research into better yielding, fast maturing and disease resistance varieties
- carrying out market research to widen the export market for farm output
- constant dredging of canals to allow efficient flow of water for irrigation
- specialization of farming activities and thus increase in the quality of output
- practicing mixed farming to encourage interdependence between crop and livestock
- extension of canals and aqueducts to transfer water to the farms
