Can We Abandon a Traditional Irrigation in the Ouakda Oasis (Algeria)?

Abstract

Can we abandon traditional irrigation to the detriment of modern irrigation in the oasis of Ouakda? This is the question we pose in this study. Indeed, based on three missions carried out in the oasis of Ouakda during the years 2013, 2015 and 2016, we made visits and investigations to ancestral works as well as surveys of the local population. The results indicate that the Ksourian population irrigated the gardens and the palm grove by surface and underground water. Two ancestral dams made on the Bechar River for irrigation the gardens of the lower part. On the other hand, the foggaras irrigated the upper part of the palm grove. Today, new land has been built on the upper part of the palm grove. Thanks to new hydraulic techniques such as drilling and motor pumps, modern agriculture has developed on the other side of the palm grove to the detriment of oasis agriculture.

The Sharing of Flood Waters in the Ksours of Ghardaia and Berriane (Algeria) Hydraulic Study

“…For the garden 3 with an area of 342 m 2 , we redo the same calculation; q3 = 0.0011m 3 delivered is homogeneous between the neighbours according to the surface of each garden. In many cases, the quantity of floodwater entering this system is significant and the water reaches high levels (1 m).…”

“…In the Saoura Valley, the oases are equipped with foggaras that capture the waters of the Grand Erg Occidental (Taghit oases), spring water or groundwater. This water is used and shared among farmers based on an hourly mode [2] [3]. For the foggaras used in the oases of Touat and Gourara to capture groundwater, oasis people use a volumetric sharing system.…”

The impact of using modern irrigation techniques on the ancient Mougheul palm grove, South-West of Algeria

“…The date palm with about twenty varieties has been replaced by vegetable farming. There are all kinds of vegetables and fruits [REMINI, REZZOUG 2018] Due to population growth, rising living standards and, of course, the great development of the various sectors of the economy, the demand for water is constantly increasing [BENNADJI et al 1998]. Added to this are the effects of climate change affecting the region, like all neighboring countries, which puts a lot of pressure on the region's water reserves, resulting in over-exploitation of these natural sources.…”