The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation recently launched a national campaign to conserve water in Egypt. Called Ala Al-Qad, its message encourages citizens to use water sparingly.
Egypt needs 114 billion cubic metres of water annually for agriculture, drinking and other needs while the available and estimated water resources is 60 billion cubic metres annually, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sweilam wrote in an article recently published in the daily Al-Ahram. Sweilam said the deficit is currently being compensated by using 21 billion cubic metres annually from agricultural drains and importing crops from abroad, which corresponds to water consumption estimated at 33 billion cubic metres annually.
One public service announcement currently on Egyptian radio is part of attempts to reach workers in the agricultural sector which consumes 70 per cent of Egypt’s water resources. The announcement says:
“If you water your land more than it can handle, the plants will turn yellow and their value will decrease. Not everything is beneficial when in excess. A drop of water according to your needs is good for you and your grandchildren.”
