Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hany Sweilam on Tuesday met with a delegation from the Australian Rubicon Water company for co-operation talks.
The minister was briefed on the company’s activities in irrigation, automatic control and measurement devices and designing management systems.
The two sides called for the formation of a working group of specialists from the ministry and the company to consider the possibility of joint water ventures.
The minister said a series of measures have been taken to increase agricultural productivity by modernising the water sector.
Sewilam said that his ministry is developing a waterways network as part of a broader plan to rationalise water use for the National Water Resources Strategy 2037.
Canal lining of canals will improve water distribution and prevent pollution, Sewilam said, adding that his ministry is encouraging farmers to switch to modern irrigation systems, which have already been applied to 230,000 feddans (acres) and later 55,000 feddans as requested by farmland owners.