The main objectives of the proposed piloting are to improve agriculture water management in the Delta by reducing evaporation losses in canals and to provide a more sustainable source of energy for water lifting for irrigation. Its rationale is driven by the following reasons:
- Irrigation canals in Egypt are generally below ground level, which makes pumping a must to deliver water to the fields.
- Pumping for irrigation in the country has noticed drastic change to electricity to use in the recent decade.
- Farmers are more vulnerable to electricity shortages, which are recently frequent, and
- Land in the delta is costly, therefore the installation of solar panels in the fields is not seen as a viable option.
Project activities include:
- Purchase and installation of solar equipment to cover irrigation canals,
- Raise awareness amongst local farmers and Water User Associations (WUAs) to operate and maintain the system and on the benefits of the project, and
- Build capacity of technical staff of Government/relevant stakeholders to maintain guidance to farmers and sustainability of intervention beyond project period.
Progress so far:
- Installation /operation of a solar system in one site (El-Afeer).
- On-going implantation process for the other site (El-Souria 5 and 6).
- Strengthened local capacities on operation and maintenance of the new technique for the lifting of irrigation water from canals with a service provided by the MWRI/National Water Research Center.
- Designed the canvas of Business Model to promote sustainable use of solar energy in irrigation in the Nile Delta with a service provided by the Heliopolis University for Sustainable Development.
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Water Scarcity Initiative (WSI)
2018