EGYPTIAN CROPS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 209, 2 August 1935, Page 11

EGYPTIAN CROPS.

IRRIGATION FROM ASSOUAN DAM

Although the heightening ot the Assouan Dam on the Nile was completed more than a year ago, the present season is the first in which the reservoir is bein'* used to its full capacity, A start to hold up water was made at the eiul of October, and the nostream level was, by January, brought to the record level of more than 100 feet higher than the water level on the downstream side, thereby impounding nearly 200,000,000,000 cubic feet. This immense volume was released during the months of April, May and June, thereby more than doubling the natural summer discharge of the liver at that period. Profiting by the extra water, it is

expected that a record area of summer crops, amounting to about nan the total area of the cultivable land in Egypt, will he realised this year. Among these crops, cotton will probably occupy close to 2,000,000 acres, while the 500,000 acres of rice promised will be more than double the area usually grown. These extensive areas under irrigation will put a very heavy strain on the present means of land drainage, which are still far behind those of irrigation. This vitally_ important subject is not being lost sight of and efforts are being made to extend the drainage system and increase the capacity, of pumping installations. Furthermore, projects for reclaiming wasteland in order to make full use of the extra water are being considered by the Government.