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

  The orange river project increased irrigation thereby creating more land for agricultural development for example at the Buchuburg dam an increment of 28000 hectares of agricultural land was realized while at Torquay more than 1200 hectares of land was added onto the existing land. An increase in agricultural land also increased crop production to over 25%, especially in the production of fruits, vegetables, maize, wheat , groundnuts, cotton, and many others which were grown on a large scale thereby guaranteeing food security for the South Africans. The dangers of severe droughts over a large area of the Karoo were greatly reduced through the artificial application of water and South Africa became a major producer of wool as a result of improved sheep rearing in the region. Flood control was also undertaken through the building of dams, stabilizing of the river banks well as reducing silting, and all these reduced damages. It also helped to save funds that would have been spent ...

THE ORANGE RIVER PROJECT Is the largest multi-purpose river scheme in the whole of Africa found in South Africa and it has been a major basis for the countrys agricultural and industrial development. The scheme started in 1962 and by 1990 a greater part of it had been completed. Its cost has been put to over 900 million dollars. The scheme has several dams for example the Vaal dam, Hertz dam Hendrikverwolerd, Gariep, Vanderkloof, Torquay, Clan William, and Buchuburg. The orange river on which the scheme is located originates from the Drakensburg mountains in the east-flowing westwards through the republic of South Africa to the Atlantic coast. It also forms an international boundary between South Africa and Namibia. It has several tributaries for example Caledon, Vaal, Fish, and Hertz. The main objectives of the river scheme include: To control flooding during the rainy season. To encourage irrigation farming in the drier but fertile dams of the semi-arid regions of the central cape pr...

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...

  The river is large natural stream or mass of water flowing in the valley. Rivers their valley and the resultant features have both positive and negative influences on physical and human environment. The following are the importance of rivers in Africa. River water is used for both industrial and domestic purpose. Water supply to many urban area is pumped from rivers. For example the water supplied to dare s salaam regional in Tanzania comes from river Ruvu. Water from rivers are suitable for irrigation since they are fresh wate r. Irrigation is helpful especially in dry areas as well as in other regional which receive inadequate rainfall. The river water is used to supplement rainfall in order to ensure continuous crop production throughout the year. Example of areas which practice irrigation include Gezira irrigation scheme in Sudan which depend on water of Blue Nile . Rivers can be used to transport people and goods (navigation) . Navigable rivers or their section are used as ...