Egypt's Ministers of Water Resources and Irrigation and Agriculture met to review joint projects aimed at enhancing water management and agricultural productivity. Minister Hani Sewilam reaffirmed his ministry's commitment to close collaboration with the Agriculture Ministry to remove obstacles and improve water system efficiency. The meeting focused on completing the first phase of the private irrigation canals digitisation project.
Egypt's Ministers of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam, and Agriculture, Alaa Farouk, convened a meeting of the joint coordination committee to review shared projects designed to improve water management and increase agricultural output. Sewilam emphasized his ministry's dedication to ongoing partnership with the Agriculture Ministry, noting that strengthened cooperation 'will improve the efficiency of the water system, benefit farmers, and support national food security.' Farouk highlighted efforts to boost agricultural performance, maximize crop yields, and bolster food security via integrated planning.
A key highlight was the recent completion of the first phase of the private irrigation canals digitisation project, undertaken jointly by the two ministries. This initiative created a digital platform that captured data on over 22,000 canals covering more than 17,000 kilometres across 11 irrigation directorates in seven governorates, with involvement from 44 joint technical teams. The digitisation allows for ongoing monitoring of canal conditions, identification of maintenance requirements by users, planning for rehabilitation, and support for water users' associations to ensure fairer distribution.
The ministers instructed technical teams to proceed with data entry, extend the project nationwide, train additional staff, and establish a timeline for full coverage in the Nile Valley and Delta. Discussions also covered advancing on-farm irrigation methods, such as laser land levelling and raised-bed cultivation, which cut water use while enhancing efficiency, productivity, and crop quality. Officials reiterated Egypt's requirement for modern irrigation systems in newly reclaimed desert lands per national rules.
The meeting stressed creating a central joint unit to manage irrigation development projects from design to evaluation. Coordination was reviewed for irrigation and drainage upgrades in areas under the land reclamation authority, aligning with national goals for agricultural sustainability and optimized water use.