Agricultural achievements and irrigation management in Kuwait

Abstract

Kuwait has limited water resources and agriculture is faced with two major problems: (1) the hot weather during summer and (2) the poor quality of groundwater. Inspite of the above adverse conditions, impressive achievements have been made during the recent years. Almost an area of 5000 hectares is cultivated every year mainly with vegetables. Protected vegetables in plastic houses are well progressed with all the new technology for maximum yields and efficient utilization of irrigation water. Three types of irrigation water are used in agriculture, sweet (desalinated seawater), brackish and treated sewage. The important aspects to be considered are the proper education of farmers, the installation of the appropriate irrigation systems, properly designed, operated and maintained and proper irrigation scheduling of crops. Training of staff is on a continuous basis to ensure that the advance technology is well introduced and properly applied for the efficient use of all the production resources and mainly the irrigation water which is the limiting factor for expanding agriculture. The recommended irrigation system is drip for vegetables, bubbler for trees and sprinkler for fodder crops. Leaching of salts is of great concern and great consideration is given to this aspect.