https://doi.org/10.59132/geo/2016/1/8-21
Povzetek
V Egiptu je kmetijstvo nadpovprečno pomembno tako z vidika zaposlenosti kot BDP-ja. Dejstvo je, da kmetijstva ne bi bilo brez namakanja, tega pa ne brez Nila, ki je edini večji površinski vodni vir. Namakanje sega daleč v zgodovino, a vseskozi je ostajal problem poplav in občasnih suš, če so poplave zakasnile. V začetku 70. let prejšnjega stoletja zgrajen Asuanski jez je omogočil hrambo velikih količin vode (Nasserjevo jezero), ki jo lahko kontrolirano izkoriščajo za namakanje in proizvodnjo električne energije. Sam projekt je bil dostikrat obravnavan pristransko. Ker so ga Egipčani dokončali z rusko pomočjo, so zlasti na Zahodu poudarjali negativne posledice, ki jih bodo morali Egipčani v prihodnje resda še bolj upoštevati. Z zgodovinskega vidika je to eden najpomembnejših egipčanskih gospodarskih projektov, ki je omogočil izboljšano kmetovanje in s tem večjo pridelavo hrane, so pa tudi realne možnosti za namakanje povsem novih površin v sušnih območjih Zahodne ali Libijske puščave.
Abstract
Egypt Cannot Do without Irrigation
In Egypt agriculture holds above-average importance, both from the aspect of employment and of GDP. The fact is that there would be no agriculture if it were not for irrigation, which in turn would not be possible without the Nile, which is the only larger surface water source. Irrigation dates back far, yet throughout history there was the problem of floods and occasional droughts if the floods were late. The Aswan Dam built in the beginning of 1970s enabled the storage of large quantities of water (Lake Nasser), which can be exploited in a controlled manner for irrigation and generation of electricity. The project itself was often discussed one-sidedly. Because Egyptians had finished it with help from the Russians, the West above all others pointed out the negative consequences that Egyptians would have to take into consideration more seriously in the future. Historically speaking, this is one of the most important Egyptian economic projects, which has enabled improved farming and consequently greater food production; realistic possibilities do exist for the irrigation of brand new surfaces in the drought areas of the Western or Libyan Desert.