Rédaction Africa Links 24 with MENA
Published on 2024-02-05 11:28:31
Dr. Hani Sweilem, the Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, recently met with a delegation from the Islamic Development Bank to discuss the progress of the “Third National Drainage Program” project. The meeting focused on evaluating the achievements of the first phase of the program and exploring proposals for the implementation of the “Fourth National Drainage Project.”
During the meeting, Sweilem directed an evaluation of the areas served by covered drainage networks in the first phase, which was funded by the Islamic Development Bank. He emphasized the importance of comparing the conditions in these areas before and after the implementation of the covered drainage networks to demonstrate their positive impact.
Furthermore, Sweilem stressed the need to study the priorities of areas that require the replacement and renewal of covered drainage networks, with the goal of including them in the scope of the “Fourth National Drainage Project.” He highlighted the ministry’s strategy, which aims to establish covered drainage networks in old lands and replace and renew networks in expired areas. The Drainage Authority is set to implement the replacement and renewal of covered drainage networks in 89,000 acres during the fiscal year 2022/2023 and aims to cover 60,000 acres during the current fiscal year 2023/2024.
The minister also underscored the benefits of covered agricultural drainage projects, including the prevention of excess water accumulation in the soil, increased agricultural productivity, and improved soil fertility. He emphasized the importance of periodic maintenance of these networks to ensure their efficiency and longevity.
The “Third National Drainage Program” (2013 – 2026) has ambitious goals, including the establishment, replacement, and renewal of covered drainage networks in 528,000 feddans. It also aims to expand and deepen open and public drains and renovate industrial facilities in 110,000 feddans to improve the efficiency of the public drain network. As of now, the program has replaced and renewed covered drainage networks in 335,000 feddans in several stages.
The first phase, completed in 2019, replaced and renewed covered drainage networks in 94,000 feddans and expanded and deepened open and public drains in 10,000 feddans. The second phase, ongoing between 2016 and 2023, seeks to replace and renew the drainage networks covering 177,000 acres. The third phase, in conjunction with the second phase between 2020 and 2026, aims to replace and renew the drainage networks covering 257,000 acres.
Overall, the program is a comprehensive effort to modernize and improve Egypt’s drainage infrastructure, with a focus on increasing agricultural productivity and ensuring the efficient management of water resources.
In conclusion, the meeting with the Islamic Development Bank delegation provided an opportunity to assess the progress of the “Third National Drainage Program” and set the stage for the next phase of improvements in Egypt’s drainage infrastructure. Dr. Hani Sweilem’s leadership and strategic vision for the modernization of drainage networks are crucial for the sustainable development of the country’s agricultural sector and effective water management.
Read Original article on Egypt Independent
