Egypt’s irrigation minister addresses water challenges, highlights AI-driven irrigation

Egypt’s Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources, Hany Swailem, addressed the country’s water challenges at the Forum on Localising Organic Medicinal and Aromatic Plant Cultivation, organised by Heliopolis University in cooperation with Matrouh Governorate and the Egyptian Biodynamic Association (EBDA), according to a Cabinet statement.

He highlighted that Egypt’s annual water needs reach 114 billion cubic metres, while available resources are only 60 billion; however, the gap is partially covered by reusing 21 billion cubic metres of water annually and importing crops equivalent to 33.5 billion cubic metres.

Swailem stressed the importance of organic farming in water conservation, noting that wastewater from organic agriculture can be reused without treatment, reducing costs.

He also discussed Egypt’s shift to Irrigation System 2.0, which integrates artificial intelligence, satellite imagery, and drone technology to enhance water management. The system includes major water reuse projects, such as the New Delta, Bahr Al Baqar, and Al Mahsama stations, which will add 4.8 billion cubic metres to Egypt’s water resources by 2026.

He also emphasised the need for efficient irrigation in desert agriculture, advocating for drip and subsurface irrigation to prevent groundwater depletion. Swailem called for the formation of water user associations to manage groundwater resources, digitise underground water licenses, and improve coordination among farmers for irrigation schedules, labour, and crop sales.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English

Subediting: M. S. Salama