37
Figure 9.5. Total Area Equipped for Irrigation in African Group
Source: AQUASTAT, 2013
Note: Data not available in Sierra Leone
9.2. Arab Group
As in the most of the developing countries, more than 80% of water resources
are allocated to agricultural activities in arid and semi-arid Arab countries. In these
countries, a negative balance exists in fresh water resources. Resources are gradually
consumed at a rate faster than the replenishment of these resources.
Since the greatest portion of world water resources is used for agricultural
purposes and especially for irrigation, efficient water saving technologies and methods
should be used in irrigation for sustainable use of ever-depleting water resources and to
reliably meet the food demands of ever-increasing world population. Present researches
on water resources should focus on efficient water-saving technologies or sustainable
water resources management implementations.
The Arab Group has a total of 16 million hectares of irrigation potential. Iraq,
Egypt, Sudan and Morocco have the largest share in this Group. However, the potential
for irrigation is very low in other countries (Figure 9.6).