Cropping Pattern to Face Water Scarcity

Abstract

The objective of this chapter is to propose a cropping pattern that uses the amount of irrigation water assigned to agriculture more efficiently and increases food production in the five agro-climatic zones in Egypt. Our results indicated that two cropping patterns can be suggested to face water scarcity. The first cropping pattern will depend on changing crops cultivation method from flat or narrow furrows to raised beds, which will save 20% of the applied irrigation water. This amount will account for 10.0 billion cubic meters on the national level and can be used to cultivate new areas and increase the national cultivated area. The cultivated area under this suggested pattern can increase by 24%, compared to the area cultivated in 2014/15 growing season. The other suggested cropping pattern can be implemented through implementing cultivation on raised bed and polycropping, namely intercropping and cultivation of three crops per year. The cultivated area under this suggested pattern will increase by 53%, compared to the area cultivated in 2014/15 growing season. Both suggested cropping patterns can save on the applied irrigation and consequently increase food production.