In the winter of 1964, Makhluf Abu Kassem was born in an agricultural community newly created at the far end of Egypt's Fayoum Oasis. For Egyptian farmers, the daunting prospect adds a new worry on top of the other causes of mounting water scarcity. Almost all the Nile water that used to reach it is diverted into other agricultural projects or used for the growing population before it reaches Second Village, farmers say. To irrigate, the village farmers now depend on wastewater from nearby towns, which is a mix of agricultural drainage and sewage. "These trees haven't seen water in over 40 days," Abu Kassem said, showing a shrivelled fruit.

Source: Ethiopian News August 20, 2020 10:07 UTC