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

  The following are Problems facing farmers in Mwea irrigation scheme Stagnant ware encourages its breeding of snails and mosquitoes increasing incidences of   Bilharzia and malaria                                         Quelea birds which feed on rice grain lowers drop yield Siltation in canals reduces capacity to hold enough water for irrigation Fluctuating water volumes reduces water for irrigation Poor marketing strategies Delayed payment to farmers lowers their morale - Shortage of capital to finance farming activities such as plough RELATED POSTS IMPORTANCE OF SOIL STRUCTURE     7 CHARACTERISTICS OF EQUATORIAL CLIMATE    7 ADVANTAGES OF WETLANDS     7 FACTORS INFLUENCING MASS WASTING    5 CONDITIONS FOR EXISTENCE OF CORAL REEFS ...

  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 the main centers of settlement and cultivation. Less than 10% of Egypt's land area is suitable for cultivation and hence the need for irrigation. The following are steps taken to improve irrigation farming in Egypt construction of water reservoir to supply water for irrigation reclaiming of dry land for crop farming to increase production intensive cultivation to increase the yield and thus offset the high cost of production controlling weeds using herbicides and thus increasing the farm yield strengthening of cooperatives to easily acquire loans to expand farms hiring labor during the peak period such as harvesting increasing research into better yielding, fast maturing and disease resistance varieties carrying out market research to widen the export market for farm output constant dredging of canals to allow efficient flow of water for irrigation specialization of farming...

California is a dry area found in the USA and it is important for irrigation farming in areas around the imperial valley, river san Joaquin, colorado, and Sacramento, around delta Mondata and Shasta dam. Irrigation in California is important for fruits and vegetables like cucumber, eggplant, oranges, and cauliflower. The following are advantages of irrigation farming in California Source of government revenue leading to capital accumulation and improving national income development of the tourism industry by visiting irrigation areas like around the imperial valley and Shasta dam control of floods reducing on pests and diseases thus attracting settlement environmental conservation through afforestation and reafforestation programs in flooded areas and areas with infertile soil land reclamation by using desert areas and flooded areas source of food to the people of California for example fruits, vegetables thus reducing the shortage of food and malnutrition it provides employment op...

  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...