Background

In spite of absolute necessity to develop agriculture, the irrigated areas are in continuous regressing, for two reasons, the high costs of irrigation systems and water scarcity.

In Algeria, the rain deficit entailed the drying up many Wadis and the reduction of the potentialities of the underground reserves.

All these factors allied to the inappropriate technical practice, provoke a deep deterioration of the corresponding environment, to an excessive impoverishment of soils, a continual decrease of them agricultural input and an increase of the farming exodus.

Among the possible solutions for optimization of the management of scarce water technics in supplemental irrigation, the limitation of the water losses by the phenomena of dripping, evaporation and erosion, the water use efficienty, the use of recycled water and the adequate drainage.

Objectives

• i. Minimize the loose of water from conveyance, evaporation, drainage, erosion
• ii. Maximize the water conservation and availability for the plant.
• iii. Adoption of the new techniques by the agrarian communities

Outputs

• i. Helps recommendations of optimal management of supplemental irrigation techniques from the recycled waters, guaranteeing a rational water use and the best incomes for the communities.
• ii. Scarce resources water use methodologies, as complement of the rainwaters, for maximize their apports.
• iii. Improvement strategies of the cultural techniques (technical itinerary) in adequacy with the needs in water of crops for a best and durable development.
• iv. Improvement of the socioeconomic conditions of the agrarian communities

Site Selection

Because of the little available information, we present a brief preview only on the region of Ouled Bessem, but in the two communs the system of recycled waters exists. The data collection of Khemisti is in progress.

The region is to 200 Km in the west south of Algiers. Belong and located in the center of Tissemsilt, Ouled Bessem (fig. 1), with a surface of 9200 ha,, limited by:   

• i. Commune of Beni-Chaib in the North ;
• ii. Commune of Béni-Lahcene in the North West;
• iii. Wilaya of Tissemsilt in the South;
• iv. Commune of Sidi-Abed to the Ouest;
• v. Commune de Khemisti in the East.
• vi. The middle altitude of the township of Ouled Bessem is of 974 meters. The relief is characterized by weaks slopes, representing a major part of total territory areas of this commune.
• vii. The commune of Ouled Bessem is a farming zone, it is located about 14 Km in the North of the Tissemsilt.

This commune receives a average of precipitation (1980-2002) betwen 300 and 350 mm. The classification of Thornthwait places its climate of the sub-humid type to sub-arid, rainy in winter and very hot in summer.

It is an agricultural region with wheat dominance. The dominant soils of the cultivated surfaces are generaly the vertisols. The erosive phenomena are very frequent and with a big intensity.

The Ouled Bessem commune possesses considerable potentialities in underground water, in spite of its classification in the zones to dry climate. The underground waters constitute the essential of these water resources.

The accessibility and the exploitation of these resources remain a big constraint; they can’t satisfy the needs of the population and other sectors of economic activities.

For the selection of the community, some of the criteria should be handled as:

• i. Initially, few farmers representative of the overall community members and of the target site conditions will be selected;
• ii. Will be selected are the type of farmers eager to participate in the project activities and willing to carry on activities beyond project lifetime;
• iii. Presence of water distribution authority and/or local institutions;
• iv. High percentage of agriculture generated income;
• v. Having good relationships with OPI, CRMA and local administration;
• vi. Average farm size;
• vii. Diversified production system;
• viii. Water resources (underground, rainfall water runoff, sewage recycled water);
• ix. Partners available (extension, research);
• x. Varying agro-ecological conditions.

Activities

1. Selection of site and the community with project criteria (This work is in progress).

• i. Collection and revision of the first and secondary data;
• ii. Prospecting and survey of the agro-ecological and socio-économical environment ;
• iii. Survey of the feasibility and the realization faculty of the incoming development scheme in the setting of the project with the authorities and local communities.

Team: ITGC, INSID, INRA, ICARDA and independent consultants

2. Diagnosis and dialogue (December 2004): (including the evaluation of problems and constraints)

• i. Community Organization;
• ii. Action plan development;
• iii. Contractuels agreements.

Team: ITGC, INSID, INRA, ICARDA and independent consultants

3. Data study (evaluation and analysis (end of 2005):(including the: yield analysis and study of potential problems, policies and recommendations)

• i. Data study ;
• ii. Data eveluation and first part of report writing.

Team: ITGC, INSID, INRA, ICARDA and independent consultants

4. Develop and encourage production techniques adoption, mainly innovative approaches and alternatives giving high production per unit use of non conventional water (from 2005-to the end of project)

• i. Supplementary irrigation:
• ii. Supplementary irrigation using recycled sewage water.

Team: ITGC, INSID, INRA, ICARDA and independent consultants

Methodology

Participatory, integrated all of partners and community based ;

• i. Effective farmers participation;
• ii. Approches, making the project resuly easily transferable to the overall community;
• iii. Research and data will be carried on with farmers directly, but no transfer of already developed technologies;
• iv. Respect of the appointments undertook with the agriculteurs;
• v. Farmers are required to accept risk factors;
• vi. Minimum trials to achieve, for exemple: Adequate irrigation methods.

Time Frame - Algeria