Climate Change and Food Security in the Nile Valley and Red Sea

Abstract

Water is the most important resource for agricultural development in the region of Nile Valley and Red Sea. Climate change has posed an additional threat to water availability in the region that added to the competition for water for the ever-growing population, and the possible increase in temperature that may result in increased evapotranspiration and elevate the level of demand for water. The Nile valley and Delta, which is the major irrigated agricultural area in the region, is irrigated by surface irrigation. Water use efficiency is as low as 45–50 % in several cases. Fragmentation of land ownership is adding to the management problems and results in more wastes in water use. Due to the need for more land to produce more food to feed the population, land reclamation seems to be the only solution. The reclaimed land will depend on rainfall in some countries but will need more dependence on the surface water as well as underground water in other countries that is classified within the hyper arid zones. The situation may get worse under climate change conditions. Saving agricultural water is therefore a must. The Egyptian sustainable agricultural strategy has included several measures to adapt to climate change and increase water use efficiency including the reduction of area cultivated with rice; improving farming systems for animal husbandry; introducing the cropping pattern with improved agricultural extension service; improving on-farm water management in the old lands; concentrating on the agro-industrial complexes in the new land reclamation projects; improving the capacity building for human resources working in agricultural sector; and increasing the public awareness on climate change through integrated programs including private and public sectors. One of the most important issues in this effort is the National program for improving on-farm water management. The program has started in 2009 and will finish the first phase by 2017 and the second phase by 2030. The program depends on improving the soil conditions through laser leveling and changing the old surface irrigation system to modern water saving systems that suits different crops. Besides, the program will help in adapting to possible climate change. The program will also create new job opportunities for about three million families; control the water infectious diseases by covering the branch canals and limiting human direct contact with untreated surface water. Several legislations and policies will be subject to changes to facilitate the implementation of the program. To support these activities, the Climate Change Information Center (CCIC) was established in cooperation with stakeholders of the agricultural sector to provide networking within the country that could be easily reformed into a Regional Climate Change Information Center for south Mediter-ranean region and Nile Valley and Red Sea regions.