Introduction to “Sustainable Water Solutions in the Western ...
9
first period is from 1988 to 2003, and the second is from 2003 to 2018. The overall
changes in the main land use/land cover (LULC) classes during the whole period of
the study (1988–2018) are discussed. The increase of the total area of built-up land,
agricultural land, and water bodies was amounted and presented in the chapter.
To integrate the picture of this theme, Chap. 10 with the title “Crop diversification
and its efficiency in Rashda Village, Dakhla Oasis” is included to analyze the technical and scale efficiency of farms focusing on crop production in Rashda Village
(Dakhla Oasis), using cross section data of agricultural households collected from
the household survey in Rashda in 2009. The authors analyze farmers’ diversification
strategies focusing on crop production in Rashda village in Dakhla Oasis. Technical
and scale efficiency of farms in Rashda Village is investigated by using DEA (Data
Envelopment Analysis) approach.
Results suggest that the estimated efficiency scores of farm households in Rashda
are generally low, with most farms showing less than 40% of technical efficiency.
However, estimated results also suggest that the output level with the current level of
inputs can be increased by 82.5%, 79.8% under the constant returns to scale (CRS),
variable return to scale (VRS) specifications. About 24.6% of farms can increase
their production and productivity through increasing their inputs, while 24.1% can
improve their productivity by reducing their inputs. While the crop diversification
does not contribute to improve efficiency, the expansion of cultivation of watersaving crops such as dates is a positive factor for improving efficiency. Human
capital accumulation, increase experience and intensification of family labor use
would contribute to improve technical efficiency.
3.3 Hydrology and Water
Because agriculture and other forms of life without water are not feasible, this theme
focuses on water issues in the Dakhla Oasis. Chapter 11 is titled “Hydrologeological
and Hydrological Conditions of Dakhla Oasis”. This chapter reviews previous investigations concerning hydrogeologic characteristics of the deep groundwater aquifers
in Dakhla Oasis and distribution of drainage networks in the Depression. Also, it
assesses the hydrogeologic characteristics of the deep groundwater aquifers in the
Dakhla basin. In addition, a review on the irrigation system and drainage ponds are
highlighted. The aquifer consists of sandstone, shale and clay alternating beds. The
Nubian Sandstone basin is tectonically affected by regional faults and is divided into
different sub-basins. Drainage ponds are formed in the Dakhla Oasis due to agricultural operations where the agricultural ecosystem produces and consumes water. It
is surprising that sustainable development and agricultural progress in the Dakhla
Oasis have been lagging behind expectations. It poses a challenge to the drainage
network infrastructures. In many areas, drainage systems do not work effectively,
creating problems with water pollution, soil degradation, and salinity.
It is well known that the main source of water in Dakhla Oasis is groundwater.
Therefore Chap. 12 describes the “History of Wells in Rashda” as a typical village
9
first period is from 1988 to 2003, and the second is from 2003 to 2018. The overall
changes in the main land use/land cover (LULC) classes during the whole period of
the study (1988–2018) are discussed. The increase of the total area of built-up land,
agricultural land, and water bodies was amounted and presented in the chapter.
To integrate the picture of this theme, Chap. 10 with the title “Crop diversification
and its efficiency in Rashda Village, Dakhla Oasis” is included to analyze the technical and scale efficiency of farms focusing on crop production in Rashda Village
(Dakhla Oasis), using cross section data of agricultural households collected from
the household survey in Rashda in 2009. The authors analyze farmers’ diversification
strategies focusing on crop production in Rashda village in Dakhla Oasis. Technical
and scale efficiency of farms in Rashda Village is investigated by using DEA (Data
Envelopment Analysis) approach.
Results suggest that the estimated efficiency scores of farm households in Rashda
are generally low, with most farms showing less than 40% of technical efficiency.
However, estimated results also suggest that the output level with the current level of
inputs can be increased by 82.5%, 79.8% under the constant returns to scale (CRS),
variable return to scale (VRS) specifications. About 24.6% of farms can increase
their production and productivity through increasing their inputs, while 24.1% can
improve their productivity by reducing their inputs. While the crop diversification
does not contribute to improve efficiency, the expansion of cultivation of watersaving crops such as dates is a positive factor for improving efficiency. Human
capital accumulation, increase experience and intensification of family labor use
would contribute to improve technical efficiency.
3.3 Hydrology and Water
Because agriculture and other forms of life without water are not feasible, this theme
focuses on water issues in the Dakhla Oasis. Chapter 11 is titled “Hydrologeological
and Hydrological Conditions of Dakhla Oasis”. This chapter reviews previous investigations concerning hydrogeologic characteristics of the deep groundwater aquifers
in Dakhla Oasis and distribution of drainage networks in the Depression. Also, it
assesses the hydrogeologic characteristics of the deep groundwater aquifers in the
Dakhla basin. In addition, a review on the irrigation system and drainage ponds are
highlighted. The aquifer consists of sandstone, shale and clay alternating beds. The
Nubian Sandstone basin is tectonically affected by regional faults and is divided into
different sub-basins. Drainage ponds are formed in the Dakhla Oasis due to agricultural operations where the agricultural ecosystem produces and consumes water. It
is surprising that sustainable development and agricultural progress in the Dakhla
Oasis have been lagging behind expectations. It poses a challenge to the drainage
network infrastructures. In many areas, drainage systems do not work effectively,
creating problems with water pollution, soil degradation, and salinity.
It is well known that the main source of water in Dakhla Oasis is groundwater.
Therefore Chap. 12 describes the “History of Wells in Rashda” as a typical village