The Egyptian Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation is upgrading its irrigation rotation application and linking it with a digital crop-forecasting tool. This aims to calculate actual crop water requirements and distribute water through canals more precisely. The tool uses economic, social, climatic, and water-related criteria to identify crop types, areas, and locations. This integration is part of the ministry's broader shift towards data-driven water management and digitalisation.

Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam reviewed updates to the irrigation rotation application and the initial crop-forecasting tool. The upgraded application will make it easier for irrigation engineers to enter and update data, providing farmers with accurate information on when water is expected to reach individual canals. The ministry will also use the application to communicate directly with farmers through real-time notifications on irrigation schedules and other developments.

The new functions in the irrigation application will enable two-way communication between the ministry and farmers. Farmers can access the system through mobile phones and use published irrigation schedules to plan their crop irrigation. This direct communication will improve the efficiency of water distribution and help farmers make informed decisions about their crops.

The crop-forecasting tool is designed to estimate actual water requirements across different areas more accurately. By integrating this tool with the irrigation rotation application, crop data can be used to calculate water demand and translate those requirements into irrigation schedules for individual canals. This approach aims to align crop water requirements with the quantity and timing of water deliveries.

The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation believes that this integration will improve water allocation and management in Egypt. The use of digital tools and data analysis will enable more precise distribution of water resources, reducing waste and increasing efficiency. This is part of a broader effort to modernise Egypt's water management systems.

The integration of the crop-forecasting tool and irrigation rotation application is a significant step towards digitalising Egypt's water management systems. The ministry plans to continue developing and improving these tools to achieve better water management and allocation. This will have a positive impact on farmers, who will be able to plan their crops more effectively, and on the environment.

The Egyptian government's efforts to improve water management are crucial for the country's agricultural sector. By using digital tools and data analysis, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation can make more informed decisions about water allocation and distribution. This will help to ensure that Egypt's water resources are used efficiently and effectively.

Key points

  • Egypt's Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation is integrating a digital crop-forecasting tool with its irrigation rotation system to improve water allocation.
  • The tool uses economic, social, climatic, and water-related criteria to identify crop types, areas, and locations.
  • The integration aims to align crop water requirements with the quantity and timing of water deliveries.

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SaharaWire Newsroom
SaharaWire

Reporting for SaharaWire from the Nairobi bureau.