3.3.1 Background

Periodic droughts that characterises the climates in many parts of the world has to be part of a strategy for improving food security in the developing world. As days pass by the world population increases and the fresh water resources which are mainly used for agricultural purposes decrease on a per capita basis and approaches an upcoming water crisis.

Soil salinity is a problem encountered in arid and semi-arid lands, where irrigation is practised. Arid and semi-arid land receiving less than 200 mm of erratic rainfall constitutes the major part of cultivated land in the Middle East countries Egypt, Israel, Jordan and the Palestine Authorities. Contrary to Egypt where almost all cultivated land is irrigated (98%), Jordan and the Palestine Authority area have to rely on rain fed agriculture (90%), while the share of rain fed and irrigated agriculture in Israel is approximately 60% and 40% respectively. Agriculture is responsible for the major share of water consumption representing 75% to almost 90% of total water use.

Annual withdrawal rates of water equal annual renewable water resources and leave no room for increased demands in any of the countries arising from increased economic activity and/or from population growth, except Jordan and the Gaza strip which experience already now extraction rates exceeding available water resources. The exploitation of new water resources are thus critical for the maintenance and development of a viable agricultural sector and the preservation of fresh water resources for domestic use. In addition, due to the overexploitation of existing resources and the addition of recycled water existing fresh water sources are becoming increasingly saline. Therefore, the scope of the issues to be addressed becomes much more universal and challenging. Saline water which is available in abundance and increasing due to overexploitation of coastal (enhancing sea water intrusion) and/or shallow aquifers is such an alternative resource which provides opportunities for advantageous irrigation use in agriculture. Salinity reduces crop yields and may badly affect if not even destroy soil structures. At the same time the major challenge for the agricultural sector is the application of a variety of measures that will favourably impact on a better response to available saline water resources such as changing crops, adapted appropriate irrigation management methods, leaching of soils and soils reclamation. The well managed application of brackish water can markedly improve the quality of produce provided it is applied where there are no shallow aquifers.

Most of Egypt’s present water resources mainly provided from the Nile river (85%) have been exhausted. In order to meet future demands the country has launched challenging water management and reuse programmes directed towards minimising losses and increasing the efficiency of water use. Some major environmental, sociological and institutional issues have to be addressed besides huge investment requirements.

Rainfall averages about 200 mm along the northern coast and is declining from the coastal area to the inland areas to almost no rainfall in Middle and Upper Egypt. The major challenge facing Egypt is the limited water supplies meeting the needs of a population growing at a rate of 2,5% annually. Planners are forced to consider any source of marginal water which might be used to promote further development such as brackish water, which, however, has a high salt content, and also municipal waste water. It has been realised that marginal water quality requires complex and special management practices. Intensive studies are being or have been conducted testing the response of saline water to various crops, such as wheat, clover, cotton, rice, legumes and vegetables.

Israel avails of annually 1,8 billion cbm of water, of which Lake Tiberias provides 0,4 billion cbm, two aquifers (mountain and coastal) provide 1,2 billion cbm and reclaimed water accounts for 0,2 billion cbm. The agricultural sector consumes 1,2 billion cbm of total available resources. There is a continuous trend for fresh water to be replaced by reclaimed water sources. At the same time it has to be assumed that the demand for water in agriculture will not lessen and that additional resources would come from waste and brackish water. Among others the Negev desert provides the potential for new resources and agricultural development, including the availability of some fossile aquifers able to provide saline water ( 150 million cbm/year) for the next 100 years. The country avails of a rich experience in the favourable use of saline water which is considered as a potential for improved economic returns, as many more crops than expected are resistant to salinity. Due to the non-existence of shallow aquifers in desert areas harmful environmental effects are almost excluded.

More than 90% of the area in Jordanreceives less than 200 mm/ year of rainfall with a potential evaporation of 1900 mm/year. Only 4,5% of Jordan receives more than 300 mm of rain. Over a period of 15 years 8 1991 – 2005) Jordan’s water deficit is almost doubling and water demand increasing by 60%. A population growth of 3,8% is one of the major factors affecting demand.

Irrigated agriculture consumes about 72% of available water resources. 70% of the consumed water can be provided from annual renewable resources, while available surface water resources are almost exhausted and ground water extraction is already exceeding the safety yield requiring the exploration of new water resources and optimising the use of saline water.

Two rivers provide the main source for surface water (Yarmouk and Zarqa). Water quality is declining due to sewage water and/or overexploitation. Research programmes are being conducted by the National Centre for Agricultural Research and Technology Transfer with the aim to optimise the use of non-traditional irrigation water resources. The abundance of saline water makes it imperative to find means for employing saline water resources for irrigation.

The Palestinian Authority requires annually 230 million cbm of water, of which about 173 million cbm are used for agriculture. Requirements for fruit trees amount to about 50%, vegetable production to 40% and field crops to 10% of total water use in agriculture. Fruit production in Gaza and vegetable production in the West Bank is mainly dependant on irrigation.

Wells and cisterns have historically been the main sources of water in both the West Bank and Gaza strip, accounting for 66% of all water consumed. Highland spring account for 27% of the water consumed and the remaining sources of water are derived from surface water run-offs or water purchased from Israeli water utilities.

Most of the water used for irrigation in particular Gaza has saline properties. However, only limited research has been carried out to apply saline water for irrigation of mainly vegetable crops. A better selection of crops has to be done to in order to exploit the potential for crop production which yields are less affected by a high salinity content. The main alternative water resource planned to be applied will be brackish water. However, the poor distribution and erratic fall of rain over time appears to be the most common cause for crop failure rather than water scarcity.

The region has gained substantial experience in the use of saline water for irrigation and many researchers have over a number of years been involved in various experiments. However, only little documentation is available, let alone relevant training material that could support needed extension services in this field which is disseminated to farmers which have to be highly skilled in order to appropriately to apply available technologies and techniques.

A programme was discussed initially by a regional working group in April 1998. In July 1999 a second workshop was held with the purpose of confirming earlier agreed programmes and to renew the regional co-operation ensuring appropriate implementation of below activities.

3.3.2 Objectives

Within the framework of the overall objectives of increased regional co-operation and enhancing productivity gains in the agricultural sector, it is the objective of this programme component to increasingly apply saline water resources in an optimal way for irrigation purposes.

Specific objectives have been further identified to cover the documentation of available technologies and techniques and their dissemination to agricultural extension agents at all levels.