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Areas irrigated by surface irrigation methods in the COMCEC Member
Countries are slightly above 60 million ha. Asian Group countries have a higher area
under surface irrigation compared to the rest (54 million ha). Surface irrigation, in both
Arab and African Group countries is very low. Sprinkler irrigation methods in the
COMCEC Member Countries cover about 3 million ha.
As a matter of fact, Arab and Asian group countries have more areas under
sprinkler irrigation than the African Group Countries which have a limited sprinkler
irrigation technology. About 1.5 million ha land is irrigated by localized (drip and micro
sprinkler) system in the COMCEC Member Countries. According to analyses, the
Arabic and Asian Group countries have the highest amount of lands under localized
irrigated systems. The amount of localized irrigation in African Group countries is
almost negligible. The equipped lowland of the COMCEC Member Countries is about
600 thousand ha. When groups of countries are examined, African countries have the
most lowlands (400 thousand ha) in area. There is almost no area of the lowlands in
Arab countries. With regard to distribution of irrigation methods, the COMCEC
Member Countries mostly have surface irrigation (80%).
In many irrigation projects, crop yields are reduced due to waterlogging and
salinization of the land. In some cases, there is total loss of production and therefore the
land is abandoned. The situation is of particular concern in Africa. Salinization also
requires monitoring in: Djibouti, Gambia and Mozambique, where soils are naturally
saline; Namibia; Niger, where 350 ha have been abandoned. Finally, Egypt has
controlled its salinization since the 1970’s on a large part of its irrigation schemes
through the installation of drainage systems. According to available data, Egypt has to
work more to drain the country. Asia countries have 20 million ha of drainage system in
the COMCEC Region. The data for African Group Countries is unavailable.
Because of insufficient irrigation infrastructure, most of the COMCEC member
countries depend on rain-fed agriculture. Dependence of agricultural industry on climate
conditions of member countries with uneven or irregular precipitation regimes may only
be reduced through improving irrigation systems and increasing irrigated lands.
For an efficient use of available water resources, irrigation scheduling works
should take soil, climate (rainfall and water consumption), vegetation, topography,