CAIRO, Nov 10 (NNN-MENA) – Egyptian Minister of Agriculture, Ezz El-Din Abu Steit, said that, the government has “ambitious plans” to use modern irrigation systems to cope with water scarcity.
“We have ambitious plans to use modern irrigation systems, through a project that will be launched soon, in coordination with the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources,” Abu Steit said, during the inauguration of a horticulture exhibition in Cairo.
He pointed out that Egypt’s annual water quota per capita is less than 550 cubic metres, “which means that Egypt suffers from water poverty.”
Speaking about the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile, the Egyptian minister said, negotiations are underway, on the rules for filling and operating the dam.
“Even if a solution on the crisis of the dam is reached, Egypt is still required to find new mechanisms for irrigation, as well as, securing enough water to cope with the population increase,” the minister said.
On Wednesday, Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, agreed to solve their dispute over the construction of the mega dam, which is expected to produce more than 6,000 megawatts of electricity, by next Jan.– NNN-MENA