Gezira Scheme
Encyclopedia
The Gezira Scheme is one of the largest irrigation
projects in the world. It is centered on the Sudan
ese state
of Al Jazirah
, just southeast of the confluence of the Blue
and White Nile
rivers at the city of Khartoum
. The economy of Sudan was historically based on agriculture prior to the beginning of oil exports in the late 1990s. The Gezira Scheme was begun by the British
and distributes water from the Blue Nile through canals and ditches to tenant farms lying between the Blue and White Nile rivers.
The Gezira (which means "island") is particularly suited to irrigation because the soil slopes away from the Blue Nile and water therefore naturally runs through the irrigation canals by gravity. The soil has a high clay content which keeps down losses from seepage. The first plan was to grow wheat but this was abandoned when it was discovered that Egyptian-type long staple cotton
could be grown. Cotton was first grown in the area in 1904 and, after many experiments with irrigation, 9 miles² (24 km²) was put under cultivation in 1914. After the lowest Nile flood for 200 years, the Sennar Dam
was constructed on the Blue Nile to provide a reservoir of water. This dam was completed in 1925 and is about 2 miles (3.2 km) long. The Gezira Scheme was initially financed by the Sudan Plantations Syndicate in London and later the British government guaranteed capital to develop it. The Gezira Board took over from private enterprise in 1950.
Farmers cooperate with the Sudanese government and the Gezira Board. This network of canals and ditches is 2,700 miles (4,300 km) long, and with the completion in the early 1960s of the Manaqil Extension on the western side of the Gezira Scheme, the irrigated area now covers 3,400 miles² (8,800 km²), about half the country's total land under irrigation. The main crop grown in this region is still cotton.
Irrigation
Irrigation may be defined as the science of artificial application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural crops, maintenance of landscapes, and revegetation of disturbed soils in dry areas and during periods of inadequate rainfall...
projects in the world. It is centered on the Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
ese state
States of Sudan
Below is a list of the 15 states of Sudan, organized by their original provinces during the period of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan. Arabic language versions are, as appropriate, in parentheses. States that were not provinces before 1994 are marked with . Transliterations from Arabic to English may vary;...
of Al Jazirah
Al Jazirah (state)
Al Jazirah , also spelled Gezira, is one of the 15 states of Sudan. The state lies between the Blue Nile and the White Nile in the east-central region of the country. It has an area of 27,549 km². The name comes from the Arabic word for peninsula. Wad Madani is the capital of the state.It is...
, just southeast of the confluence of the Blue
Blue Nile
The Blue Nile is a river originating at Lake Tana in Ethiopia. With the White Nile, the river is one of the two major tributaries of the Nile...
and White Nile
White Nile
The White Nile is a river of Africa, one of the two main tributaries of the Nile from Egypt, the other being the Blue Nile. In the strict meaning, "White Nile" refers to the river formed at Lake No at the confluence of the Bahr al Jabal and Bahr el Ghazal rivers...
rivers at the city of Khartoum
Khartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
. The economy of Sudan was historically based on agriculture prior to the beginning of oil exports in the late 1990s. The Gezira Scheme was begun by the British
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
and distributes water from the Blue Nile through canals and ditches to tenant farms lying between the Blue and White Nile rivers.
The Gezira (which means "island") is particularly suited to irrigation because the soil slopes away from the Blue Nile and water therefore naturally runs through the irrigation canals by gravity. The soil has a high clay content which keeps down losses from seepage. The first plan was to grow wheat but this was abandoned when it was discovered that Egyptian-type long staple cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
could be grown. Cotton was first grown in the area in 1904 and, after many experiments with irrigation, 9 miles² (24 km²) was put under cultivation in 1914. After the lowest Nile flood for 200 years, the Sennar Dam
Sennar Dam
The Sennar Dam is a dam on the Blue Nile near the town of Sennar, Sudan. It was built in 1925 by the British engineer, desert explorer and adventurer, Stephen "Roy" Sherlock, under the direction of Weetman Pearson. The dam is 3025 meters long, with a maximum height of 40 meters . It provides...
was constructed on the Blue Nile to provide a reservoir of water. This dam was completed in 1925 and is about 2 miles (3.2 km) long. The Gezira Scheme was initially financed by the Sudan Plantations Syndicate in London and later the British government guaranteed capital to develop it. The Gezira Board took over from private enterprise in 1950.
Farmers cooperate with the Sudanese government and the Gezira Board. This network of canals and ditches is 2,700 miles (4,300 km) long, and with the completion in the early 1960s of the Manaqil Extension on the western side of the Gezira Scheme, the irrigated area now covers 3,400 miles² (8,800 km²), about half the country's total land under irrigation. The main crop grown in this region is still cotton.