Poster by Karimi, P.; Notenbaert, A.; Breugel, P. Van and Molden, D. for: CPWF Nile Basin Focal Project Final Workshop, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 9 December 2009.

1. FU Berlin
Improved Agricultural Water Management In the Nile Basin
Production systems and water productivity in the Nile Basin
Poolad Karimi1, An Notenbaert2, Paolo van Breugel2, David Molden1
1
International Water Management Institute, 2 International Livestock Research Institute
1. Production systems
Production systems within the Nile basin can be grouped into irrigated agriculture, rainfed agriculture,
livestock, fisheries, aquaculture and multiple use systems. Rain fed agriculture is the largest agricultural
practice in the Nile basin. More than 87% of the land (37 million ha) is under rain fed agriculture, most
of which occurs in the Ethiopian highlands and Equatorial Nile area. Irrigated agriculture is dominated
by large scale developments in Egypt and Sudan, while only relatively small areas of irrigation have so
far been developed under small scale schemes in the Upper Nile countries. Livestock production in the
basin varies from subsistence crop‐livestock production (mixed) to commercial production (FAO, 2000).
Significant numbers of livestock are concentrated in the arid and semi‐arid areas of the Nile Basin part
of Ethiopia, Kenya, the Sudan and Tanzania. Fisheries are an important contributor to the local
populations’ food security and a means of income generating and employment.
Figure 1. Production systems map of the Nile Basin
2. Livestock water 3. Crop water productivity
productivity
Water productivity in the Nile Basin has a large variation.
Livestock water productivity in In terms of SGVP/Eta, water productivity is ranging from
agricultural systems is the ratio of the 0.01 $/m3 in Sudan to 0.2 $/m3 in Egypt. Results show, in
sum of animal products and services general higher land and water productivities in irrigated
produced to the amount of water areas in Egypt and Sudan. Rainfed crops water
depleted in producing them. Livestock productivity is generally low, except in patches Ethiopia
water productivity assessments can and equatorial countries where they are slightly higher.
use quantitative indicators of animal In almost more than two third of areas received rainfall is
outputs (e.g., kg of meat, milk and not enough to meet crop’s water demand.
manure or hectares of land that oxen
plough) or indicators of economic and
social benefits that people derive from
animal keeping.
4.Aquaculture & Fisheries
production Figure 2. Livestock water productivity in the Nile Basin
In 2007 aquaculture production in Nile basin countries reached 700,000 tons which is worth just over 1 million
US$ (FAO). Egypt is the main producer of farmed fish within the basin countries with 91% of total production.
Uganda aquaculture production is ranked the second producing 7% of total aquaculture production. Production
in the other countries together represents less than 2% of the farmed fish. There is high potential for fisheries
development in many locations in the basin, such as the Sudd.
Quantity Value 5.Scope for improvements
Country
ton % of total (USD 000) % of total • In upstream countries there is a high scope for improvement
Egypt 635,516 91% 1,192,614 89% of crop, livestock, and fish production
Uganda 51,110 7% 115,662 9% • Land productivity gains result in water productivity gains
Other countries
13,808
2%
25,615
2% • Providing more water access (supplemental or full irrigation)
will achieve more land and water crop productivity
Total 700,434 1,333,891
• Vegetation rehabilitation is a key to improved livestock water
Table 1. Nile basin countries aquaculture production quantity and value in
2007
productivity
Figure 3. Land and water productivity in the Nile Basin
For more information contact: e‐mail address
Y.Mohamed@unesco‐ihe.org
P.Karimi@cgiar.org