Enhancing Water Productivity by Improving On-farm Irrigation Management in Fayoum and Minia, Egypt: Final Narrative Report

Abstract

The productivity and sustainability of water use in agriculture in Egypt, both at present and into the future, depends on the efficient use of water at both the farm and basin levels. It is widely agreed that technical and political efforts to improve water use efficiency in irrigated areas are top priorities to mitigate water scarcity in the country. The most effective way to improve irrigation water use efficiency is to provide better solutions to show farmers how to optimize distribution uniformity and application efficiency through better water system management. The overall objective of the project is to sustainably improve the livelihoods of resource-poor rural communities in Minia and Fayoum governorates in Egypt by introducing open-source solutions for enhanced water productivity. The project has three immediate objective: 1) Improve the productivity of small scale-farming systems through more effective and efficient use of water and land resources; 2) Improve on-farm income by scaling out the improved irrigation and agricultural practices; 3) Develop and disseminate innovative and cost-effective integrated packages at field level that increase agricultural water productivity. This project used science evidence-based, proven on-farm technologies that are scientifically based, environmentally sound, and economically affordable. The outputs and outcomes of this project focused on improved farm productivity and sustainability of agriculture, which are consistent with Egypt’s Sustainable Agricultural Development Strategy towards 2030. The project created synergies, complementarities and capitalized on other EU-JRDP projects/activities in the same area of intervention of Bahr Awlad Mohamed and Bahr Biahmu in Fayoum and Hafez Al Sharkyia in Mina.