"DESalt", Dutch-Egyptian cooperation in farming and water management under degraded and saline conditions
In 2020, the Dutch consortium started a project to assess how farmers in Egypt could improve cultivation and water management strategies under degraded and saline soil and water conditions. The challenge lies in adapting to a changing climate, desertification, water shortage and salinization and improving the short-term commercial revenue for farmers, while working to sustain a long-term business.
The aim of the project focuses on:
* working alongside Egyptian farmers and establish new revenue models that can recopied by other farmers
* providing training on saline farming and water management to farmers
* building capacity among agriwater stakeholders on new revenue models and ways of cooperation
In short, the project focusses on creating business cases for saline agriculture and build capacity for the further implementation of sustainable saline agricultural practices. Creating business cases is important to show farmers that saline agriculture is possible and profitable. The continued upscaling of DESALT will lead to a large network of farmers that are able to produce more high-yield, high-demand crops, thus strengthening their domestic and international position. This attracts further investment and improves the trade position.