The Egyptian government has launched the New Delta project, which involves growing wheat and other crops essentially in the desert. This was reported by the Egyptian State Information Service.
The project was launched by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi during this year's wheat harvest in new fields west of the Nile Delta.
New Delta is the largest reclamation project in the country's history. Its area is expected to reach about 9,000 sq. km of new agricultural land. Wheat and corn – Egypt's strategic crops – will be grown there, as well as vegetables and export-oriented crops – olives and figs.
El-Sisi reported that approximately 800 billion Egyptian pounds ($15.1 billion) have already been invested in the project. These funds are directed towards land preparation, construction of grain storage facilities, industrial zones, and roads that will connect desert areas with the Nile Valley and seaports.
According to government forecasts, New Delta will create over 2 million jobs. A key element of the project is a large-scale water supply system, referred to as the 'artificial river.' Water from drainage canals in the western part of the Nile Delta is directed to the El-Hamam purification complex on the Mediterranean coast, where it is treated to 7.5 million cubic meters of water daily. Then, through a 170-kilometer canal, the water reaches the desert areas.
To cover the planned area of New Delta, another, shorter line of the irrigation system will be built – with an additional set of pumping stations.
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