In Matrouh Governorate, yields of rain-fed agriculture are very low due to the erratic and variable rainfall pattern in the area. Livelihood in the area depends largely on the rainfall and the different water harvesting structures available, and as such, it is a priority to increase the efficiency of runoff water, for human consumption as well as for other agricultural uses, both crops, and livestock.

The EU-JRDP funded project succeeded to establish and rehabilitate 1,355 cisterns and Roman wells with a total storage capacity of about 208,000 m3 and contributed to reducing the water gap for human and animal consumption by 72%.

EU-JRDP succeeded to reduce drinking water costs by 87% per household and reduced the time needed to collect and access water from 2.14 hours to 28 minutes. Both the Desert Research Institute and FAO provided services to farmers that aimed to enhance the efficiency of farming and to increase the production and productivity of the main crops grown inside the wadis.

For more information, please visit the following link: Capitalisation 4: Best Water Harvesting Practices in the Drylands of North West Coastal Zone of Egypt