La politique de gestion de la ressource en eau d'irrigation face à l'aléa climatique, aux contraintes sociales et économiques : Cas de l'Algerie

The policy of water management for irrigation versus the climatic risk, to the social and economic constraints: Case of Algeria

¹ Institut National Agronomique (INA), Département du Génie Rural, 16 200 Hassan-Badi Alger, Algérie
² Cemagref, UMRG-eau, Aix-en-Provence, France
³ Ecole Nationale Supérieure de l’Hydraulique (ENSH), Soumâa Blida, Algérie

Auteur de correspondance : m.chabaca@ina.dz

Abstract

The climatic and structural constraints that weigh on irrigated farming in Algeria impose a rigorous and rational management of the water resources. The aridity of the climate makes the cultivations hazardous, even in zones of potentially rich soils. Rainfall is badly distributed in time and space. 80 % of the hydrographic network is located in the Northeastern regions of the country. The rate of filling of the dams does not exceed 50 to 70%. The loss of water from the networks (drinking and irrigation) varies between 40 and 50%. The situation of ground and water potentials obtained from investigations and reports from specialized structures show the growing pressure coming from the city and industries on mobilized of agricultural water. This pressure hinders the possibilities of development of irrigated agriculture based on surface water. To ease the pressure and in order to be able to satisfy water requirements for the AEP, industry and agriculture, several measures are followed. The reduction of water loss from the adduction networks, the modernisation of irrigation techniques, to reconsider the management of underground water, the possibility of artificial refill, the desalination of sea water to provide water supply to coastal zones, the recycling of used water which has been done for several years, regional transfers between dams. These measures should among others, meet the request for water, maintain renewal capacities of water resources and preserve their quality in order to reduce the constraints on the natural environment.