Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s ambitious Future of Egypt project aims to transform 16,800 sq km of desert into farmland by 2027, but it is raising concerns about water usage. The project, which began in 2014, includes a 70-mile artificial river costing over $5bn to irrigate the new fields. Critics argue that the initiative strains Egypt’s already scarce water resources, with the country facing a 7bn cubic meter annual water deficit. Most irrigation depletes groundwater reserves, which critics argue could potentially impact future generations of Egyptians who will have no water to use. Despite its 2027 completion 2027, the project has only achieved 20% of its target. Beyond that, it has raised questions about its productivity and impact on food prices as, while exports have increased, domestic food inflation remains high.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
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