Geography & History Notes | KCSE, NECTA, ZIMSEC & GCSE

  The river Senegal forms the boundary between Mauritania and Senegal, which are west African countries bordering the Atlantic coast. In this area, annual rainfall is about 400 mm or less. However, most of the northern areas are in a desert. Therefore, because of the river, there was a need to establish irrigation schemes to increase food production. The major schemes are the Richard toll scheme and the delta scheme. The major crops grown are maize , tomatoes, sorghum, sweet potatoes, sugar canes, millet, rice, cucumbers, and beans. The following are conditions favouring irrigation farming in Senegal: The area is semi-arid and it receives low and unreliable rainfall necessitating irrigation farming supportive government policy towards irrigation farming by giving tax reductions and encouraging farm research. Presence of modern transport network by railway, road, air, for easy marketing and distribution of crops to market centres. Large sums of capital to invest in irrigation farm...

  More than 90% of Egypt is desert which is divided into two by the Nile River. The Nile valley and delta are main centres of settlement and cultivation. Less than 10% of Egypt land area is suitable for cultivation and hence the need for irrigation. The following are conditions that favour irrigation farming in Egypt: Supportive government policies toward irrigation farming by giving tax incentives and encouraging farm research. A large market for farm produce within the urban centres of Egypt and other countries Modern technology is employed in farms such as use of refrigerated trucks, cold rooms and construction of canals. A large supply of skilled labour to work in irrigation farms such as drivers, harvesters and managers The presence of modern transport infrastructures such as railways , roads, airports which enable easy marketing and distribution of crops to market centres The formation of cooperative unions which lead to reduction of cost of production such as through co...