** Floods of agricultural land in Egypt: a call for regional coordination around the Grand Ethiopien Renaissance dam **
The question of the management of Nile water resources, particularly in relation to the construction of the great Ethiopian Renaissance dam (Gerd), arouses growing concerns in Egypt. According to Professor Abbas Sharaqi, a geology specialist and water resources at the University of Cairo, the recent flood of agricultural land along the Nile is the alarming sign of a lack of coordination between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia. Analysis of the issues and consequences of this situation.
### an unexpected phenomenon
Historically, the Nile level is experiencing seasonal fluctuations. However, Sharaqi noticed that the recent elevation of the waters of the river, in April, comes at a time when one expects normally at lower water levels, just before the rainy season. According to the professor, this situation could be exacerbated by the lack of agreement between the Nile -riparian countries concerning the Gerd, thus creating uncertainties regarding water management policies. This absence of a clear legal framework seems to fuel confusion in agricultural strategies, both in Egypt and in Sudan.
### Agricultural perspective
It is important to recall that flooded agricultural land, in particular those of the governorate of Monufia, are often used by farmers under rental contract with the Ministry of Irrigation. The latter, having anticipated unusual water levels, had already warned the risk of flooding in the previous fall. However, the occurrence of this flood at an atypical time raises questions on the current management of water resources, in particular concerning the operations of the dams.
Sharaqi stresses that the frost turbines are not working at the moment, and that water flows from this dam are at a very low level. The role of regulating water flows is therefore crucial in understanding the variations in the Nile level. Coordination between countries is essential, not only for culture safety, but also for the protection of hydraulic infrastructure.
### Regional issues and dialogue prospects
The main issue lies in the way countries can collaborate to find common ground on the use of this precious resource. The relations between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia have been historically tense concerning Nile Water Management, which makes it all the more urgent the need for constructive dialogue.
To build a solid cooperation base, it could be wise to explore shared management models of water resources adopted in other regions and their results. Cooperation initiatives such as regional discussion forums could allow a better understanding of the concerns of each country, in order to achieve peaceful and sustainable solutions.
### Conclusions: towards integrated water management
Current events around agricultural land floods illustrate not only the fragility of the Nile water resources management system, but also the opportunity to open larger and inclusive discussions. Water management is intrinsically linked to environmental, economic and social considerations.
The challenge is to balance the development needs between states while guaranteeing the ecological sustainability of the region. A collaborative approach could not only alleviate existing tensions but also lead to innovative solutions to manage Nile water in the future.
Building dialogue and understanding bridges could ultimately contribute not only to the food security of the local regions, but also to the preservation of a vital resource for future generations.