Innovation in progress: introducing ProSal-Hydro project addressing Egypt’s salinity challenges

In Egypt, the Nile Delta and its 3 million small holder farmers struggle due to severe levels of salinity. The ProSal-Hydro project, funded by Partners for Water, addresses these challenges by providing an innovative, low-tech and low-cost solution using hydroponic systems in agricultural fields. Anas Azzam, project manager at consortium partner Delphy, and coordinator of the ProSal-Hydro project, shares about this innovative and accessible solution.

“After completing my master’s in water engineering and sustainable development, I have been working on multiple EU-funded projects in Egypt, focusing on sustainability, agriculture and water management,” says Anas. “What motivates me to work in this sector is the impact we can have. Seeing that results continue to have an impact after a project is finished inspires me to write new proposals and create more positive change for Egyptians who are faced with the challenges of drought, salinity and water scarcity on a daily basis.”

The ProSal-Hydro project aims to introduce innovative agricultural practices to combat salinity and water scarcity for smallholder farmers in the Nile Delta. During the pilot phase, the hydroponics systems will be implemented on five farms, along with training for farmers. The project will be coordinated and executed by Delphy International, a global expert in food and flower knowledge development and implementation. It is in collaboration with The Salt Doctors, a Dutch social enterprise company specialising in resilient farming systems for saline-affected areas, and Plug’n’Grow, an Egyptian company focused on economically viable hydroponic and aquaculture solutions.

Water scarcity and salinity

“The Nile Delta is home to over 3 million small holder farmers and serves as the primary food production area for Egypt”, says Anas. “However, sea water intrusion has led to raising salinity, affecting 40% of the farmland, particularly in the coastal area of the Nile Delta.” This critical issue requires urgent adoption of reliable, innovative agricultural practices and sustainable, smart technologies to ease the strain on freshwater consumption and soil fertility. Anas explains: “By implementing our soilless system, farmers can attain higher yields while reducing water consumption by around 80%. It offers to be a promising solution to the challenges in this vital agricultural area.”

Low-tech solution

“Most small holder farmers in Egypt don’t like high-tech solutions,” Anas points out, “they seek solutions that they can control and maintain themselves, so that they can stay independent and are less exposed to market fluctuations of spare parts.” The project offers an aquaponic system that caters to these needs and preferences. Anas explains: “The system consists of a pond that can be set up in an open field. The water is enriched with nutrients to ensure an optimal mineral balance and a pumping system is installed to provide circulation and aeration. A raft placed on top of the water, ensures evaporation is minimised.” Anas states that the water needs to be renewed only at the end of each yield cycle and that the remaining nutrient-rich water can be used to irrigate crops in the field. “This way no water is wasted.”

Stakeholder involvement

“Throughout the entire project, we maintain close collaboration with the participating farmers and actively seek their input,” says Anas. “By consistently gathering and incorporating their feedback, we aim to refine and optimize the system to local conditions, ensuring that it remains tailored to their specific needs and requirements.” To further strengthen stakeholder engagement, the project has scheduled various workshops, the first one being held in the upcoming month. “This workshop will bring together local government officials, representatives from NGOs and key stakeholders within the agriculture and water sectors,” says Anas. “Our primary objective will be to collect valuable insights and recommendations that can be incorporated in order to bolster the project’s implementation and scalability.”

What’s next?

“We have selected sites in the delta with varying water quality, salinity, and weather conditions. Currently, we are working on implementing the system,” says Anas. He explains that this has taken longer than expected: “We aim to use as many local materials as possible and achieve a low price with high efficiency. Sourcing these products requires time and constant consultation with our technical experts from Delphy and the Salt Doctors.” Fortunately, the finish line is in sight: “Next month, we will be ready to operate the system in 5 locations.”