25 August 2003
Under the patronage of the minister of Irrigation Muhammad Radwan Martini , the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands ( AVSAD) opened on August 11, the " Training workshop on the Management of Irrigation and Fertigation" . The workshop which will last for four weeks is funded by the Arab Bank for Economic development in Africa ( BADEA). The training course which will be held at ACSAD `s premises and Deir ezz Zour research centers on August 11 through September 7th is for 21 trainees from English- speaking African countries .
The ceremony held for this purpose was attended by the Minister of irrigation Radwan Martini , ACSAD `s director Adel Safar and senior officials concerned .
The workshop is the fourth co-operation activity between ACSAD and BADEA. A matter which enhances ACSAD `s position as an Arab, regional and international house of experience in various areas of its work specialties .
The training course aims at increasing water and fertilizers use efficiency and sustaining the productivity of soil. These require the determination of the adequate amount and time of applying irrigation water by using water balance method ; soil water potential measurement devices , class A evaporation pan and using meteorological equations .
The workshop also aims at determinations of the optimum concentrations of the nutrients in the irrigation water at different growth stages ; reducing the possibility of agricultural ground water pollution and salinisation .
These main objectives can be accomplished through soil moisture determination using the direct and indirect methods such as the gravimetric , neutron probe , TDR methods ( learning how to calibrate soil moisture instruments ), measuring soil bulk density and field capacity in the field ; determination of field capacity, permanent wilting point and soil moisture characteristic curve in the laboratory using pressure plate extractor; measuring of infiltration rate in the field and saturated hydraulic conductivity in the laboratory; determination of soil water potential using tensiometers , psychrometers and their caliberation in the field ; using lysimeters in the determination of crop water requirements ` using Class A pan for scheduling irrigation ; Using mathematical equations , depending on the climatic data to determine the correct time and the optimum quantities of the irrigation water ( FAO Penman- Monteith methods , planey- Cridel.., ) under normal conditions , salinity press and when leaching fraction has to be added ; calculations the amount of irrigation water using simple computer programs ( spread sheet ) depending on water balance equation ; using computer programs in the determination of the time and quantities of irrigation water to be added using the meteorological methods; teach the trainees how to use different liquid fertilizers applications and Teach the trainees how to calculate the concentration of each fertilizer in the irrigation water according to plant growth stages .
In an inaugural speech, the minister said that the ministry of irrigation in its capacity as a supervisor for water resources in Syria, and the side authorized to run and invest water resources , gives more pivotal interest not only to searching for new water resources but also on how to monitor available water resource so as to ensure amounts of waters for drinking , industrial and agricultural purposes . The minister noted the special interest paid by the country `s political leadership to the water issue due to its direct impact on the country `s economic, social and agricultural development .
The minister , however, noted that so far conducted studies on underground and surface water resources in various water basins in the country show increasing deficit in water resources in most of the country `s water basins . The minister commented that this drastic water situation requires taking measures to deal with this matter urgently .
In a similar speech , ACSAD `s director Dr. Adel Safar said that based at the mutual realization by both ACSAD and BADEA of the grave water problems and the fact that agriculture consumes more than 85% of surface and ground waters and at an efficiency less than 45% as well as misuse of water resources , the two sides agreed to launch this workshop and an initiative contributing to solving some of these problems.
Nevertheless, irrigation is essential for agricultural production in arid and semi- arid zones where rainfall is inadequate to sustain crop growth, and a primary tool to increase and stabilize agricultural production in view of uncertainties of rainfall and frequent droughts , even in more humid regions for feeding the increasing world populations.
Good quality water resources became increasingly scarce and the competition of this good quality water is diverting more water from agriculture to human and urban consumption . Poor management of available water for irrigation at system and farm level has led to a range of problems and further aggravated water availability , and hence reduced the benefits of irrigation investments .
Excess use of water and fertilizers has led to a range of environmental problems such as water logging , leaching of agro-chemicals and consequent ground water pollution in addition to the production of low quality food containing high concentration of some plant nutritive elements . Salinization of soil and ground water resources due to inappropriate water and fertilizers use is threatening large area of productive irrigated areas and water supply of many urban regions .
Irrigation scheduling and fertigation are the primary tools to improve water and fertilizer use efficiency, raises yields, increase the net farmer`s income, reduce the risk of ground water pollution and salinization , and sustain the productivity of the soil and reduce the risk of its salinization.
Worthy mentioning that the Arab bank for economic development in Africa BADEA was established according to a resolution by the 6th Arab summit conference held in Algiers in 1973.
BADEA is a financial institution funded by the Governments of the Member States of the Arab league .
The organizations was created for the purpose of strengthening economic, financial and technical cooperation between the Arab and African regions , to make Arab- African solidarity a concrete reality end to base this cooperative venture on foundations of equality and friendship. To this end , BADEA was given a mandate to participate in financing economic development in non- Arab African countries ; stimulate the contribution of Arab capital to African development; help provide the technical assistance required for the development of Africa.
Since its foundation , up to December 2002, BADEA approved 322 loans for projects . Some 24 loans are for the private sector , 278 technical assistance organizations and 14 loans under the special Arab Aid Fund ( SAAF). Total BADEA commitments amounts to about USD 2.345 billion .
Under the patronage of the minister of Irrigation Muhammad Radwan Martini , the Arab Center for the Studies of Arid Zones and Dry Lands ( AVSAD) opened on August 11, the " Training workshop on the Management of Irrigation and Fertigation" . The workshop which will last for four weeks is funded by the Arab Bank for Economic development in Africa ( BADEA). The training course which will be held at ACSAD `s premises and Deir ezz Zour research centers on August 11 through September 7th is for 21 trainees from English- speaking African countries .
The ceremony held for this purpose was attended by the Minister of irrigation Radwan Martini , ACSAD `s director Adel Safar and senior officials concerned .
The workshop is the fourth co-operation activity between ACSAD and BADEA. A matter which enhances ACSAD `s position as an Arab, regional and international house of experience in various areas of its work specialties .
The training course aims at increasing water and fertilizers use efficiency and sustaining the productivity of soil. These require the determination of the adequate amount and time of applying irrigation water by using water balance method ; soil water potential measurement devices , class A evaporation pan and using meteorological equations .
The workshop also aims at determinations of the optimum concentrations of the nutrients in the irrigation water at different growth stages ; reducing the possibility of agricultural ground water pollution and salinisation .
These main objectives can be accomplished through soil moisture determination using the direct and indirect methods such as the gravimetric , neutron probe , TDR methods ( learning how to calibrate soil moisture instruments ), measuring soil bulk density and field capacity in the field ; determination of field capacity, permanent wilting point and soil moisture characteristic curve in the laboratory using pressure plate extractor; measuring of infiltration rate in the field and saturated hydraulic conductivity in the laboratory; determination of soil water potential using tensiometers , psychrometers and their caliberation in the field ; using lysimeters in the determination of crop water requirements ` using Class A pan for scheduling irrigation ; Using mathematical equations , depending on the climatic data to determine the correct time and the optimum quantities of the irrigation water ( FAO Penman- Monteith methods , planey- Cridel.., ) under normal conditions , salinity press and when leaching fraction has to be added ; calculations the amount of irrigation water using simple computer programs ( spread sheet ) depending on water balance equation ; using computer programs in the determination of the time and quantities of irrigation water to be added using the meteorological methods; teach the trainees how to use different liquid fertilizers applications and Teach the trainees how to calculate the concentration of each fertilizer in the irrigation water according to plant growth stages .
In an inaugural speech, the minister said that the ministry of irrigation in its capacity as a supervisor for water resources in Syria, and the side authorized to run and invest water resources , gives more pivotal interest not only to searching for new water resources but also on how to monitor available water resource so as to ensure amounts of waters for drinking , industrial and agricultural purposes . The minister noted the special interest paid by the country `s political leadership to the water issue due to its direct impact on the country `s economic, social and agricultural development .
The minister , however, noted that so far conducted studies on underground and surface water resources in various water basins in the country show increasing deficit in water resources in most of the country `s water basins . The minister commented that this drastic water situation requires taking measures to deal with this matter urgently .
In a similar speech , ACSAD `s director Dr. Adel Safar said that based at the mutual realization by both ACSAD and BADEA of the grave water problems and the fact that agriculture consumes more than 85% of surface and ground waters and at an efficiency less than 45% as well as misuse of water resources , the two sides agreed to launch this workshop and an initiative contributing to solving some of these problems.
Nevertheless, irrigation is essential for agricultural production in arid and semi- arid zones where rainfall is inadequate to sustain crop growth, and a primary tool to increase and stabilize agricultural production in view of uncertainties of rainfall and frequent droughts , even in more humid regions for feeding the increasing world populations.
Good quality water resources became increasingly scarce and the competition of this good quality water is diverting more water from agriculture to human and urban consumption . Poor management of available water for irrigation at system and farm level has led to a range of problems and further aggravated water availability , and hence reduced the benefits of irrigation investments .
Excess use of water and fertilizers has led to a range of environmental problems such as water logging , leaching of agro-chemicals and consequent ground water pollution in addition to the production of low quality food containing high concentration of some plant nutritive elements . Salinization of soil and ground water resources due to inappropriate water and fertilizers use is threatening large area of productive irrigated areas and water supply of many urban regions .
Irrigation scheduling and fertigation are the primary tools to improve water and fertilizer use efficiency, raises yields, increase the net farmer`s income, reduce the risk of ground water pollution and salinization , and sustain the productivity of the soil and reduce the risk of its salinization.
Worthy mentioning that the Arab bank for economic development in Africa BADEA was established according to a resolution by the 6th Arab summit conference held in Algiers in 1973.
BADEA is a financial institution funded by the Governments of the Member States of the Arab league .
The organizations was created for the purpose of strengthening economic, financial and technical cooperation between the Arab and African regions , to make Arab- African solidarity a concrete reality end to base this cooperative venture on foundations of equality and friendship. To this end , BADEA was given a mandate to participate in financing economic development in non- Arab African countries ; stimulate the contribution of Arab capital to African development; help provide the technical assistance required for the development of Africa.
Since its foundation , up to December 2002, BADEA approved 322 loans for projects . Some 24 loans are for the private sector , 278 technical assistance organizations and 14 loans under the special Arab Aid Fund ( SAAF). Total BADEA commitments amounts to about USD 2.345 billion .
Tomader Fateh
© Syria Times 2003
