Egypt expands ICARDA partnership to advance solar irrigation and water efficiency

Egypt is strengthening efforts to improve water efficiency and agricultural sustainability through an expanded partnership with the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), focusing on solar-powered irrigation, desalination, and soil salinity management.

Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, Hani Sewilam, met with ICARDA Director General Nizar Haddad to review progress under their joint work programme for 2025–2027, which seeks to translate a cooperation agreement signed during Cairo Water Week in 2024 into practical initiatives.

According to Egypt’s State Information Service, the programme includes establishing a pilot desalination unit at the National Water Research Center’s Wadi El Natrun research station under the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s Water Scarcity Initiative.

The partnership also covers the establishment of farmer field schools in Qena and Kafr El-Sheikh, as well as integrated approaches to soil salinity management, agricultural production, and aquaculture.

Discussions also addressed the Japan-backed Enhancing Food Security in Egypt project, which focuses on strengthening climate resilience, improving agricultural and water productivity, and supporting sustainable rural livelihoods.

The initiative incorporates solar-powered irrigation systems, improved soil management, agricultural training, capacity building, and digital technologies to promote more efficient farming practices.

Sewilam stressed the importance of expanding successful approaches to water conservation and agricultural productivity across additional regions, particularly in solar irrigation, salinity management, and digital water management.

The cooperation is part of Egypt’s broader efforts to address water scarcity, improve resource efficiency, and strengthen the long-term resilience of its agricultural sector.