Water management in tertiary units in the Fayoum,Egypt

The irrigation system in The Fayoum is designed for a continuous supply of water (24 h a day, 7 days a week) to rotational units, which vary in size from about 20 to 500 fe. The Fayoum Irrigation Department is responsible for the delivery of irrigation water to the rotational units. Within the units, the farmers rotate the water in a seven days rotation.One of the characteristics of present water management of The Fayoum is the non-uniformity of the division of flow over the main canals. The purpose of this paper is: (i) to study the effects of this non-uniformity by comparing water management in tertiary units in an area with a (more than) sufficient water supply to an area subject to some water shortage; (ii) to discuss implications of the present tertiary unit water management for the water management of the entire The Fayoum.The findings are that: (i) the non-uniformity of the main system water supply has a strong effect on the water management in the tertiary units. Water shortage results in a lower cropping intensity and fallow land, no possibility to cultivate rice, and a possible trend towards salinization in the Seila area; (ii) the farmers in both research areas modify the official rotation schedule. These modifications create a high flexibility in the rotational units: The water supply for different crops and plots is adjusted almost to the minute.Glossary and abbreviations Bahar Gate-Tender - FaWMDI Fayoum Water Management and Drainage Improvement Project - fe Feddan (1 fe = 0.42 ha) - FID Fayoum Irrigation Department - Ganabiah Secondary or Sub-Secondary - IIP Irrigation Improvement Project - Kafr Satellite Village of a Larger Village with a Mayor - Mesqah Tertiary Canal - MSL Mean Sea Level at Alexandria - Nasbah Cluster of Fayoum Standard Weirs - Sheikh el Balad The Oldest of the Kafr (Elected Position)