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E. Iwasaki
public and private companies, the army, and foreign investors, especially from the
Gulf countries.
Economic liberalization also affected the well drilling in Rashda village. In 1995,
the Ministry of Irrigation authorized to deliver licenses of drilling a well with a depth
less than 300 m to the individuals and companies. Since then, many small investors
who are mostly relatively wealthy villagers dug shallow wells. These wells are called
investment wells or surface springs according to the license and their depth.
Investment wells are exploited by one or several individuals (investors) under a
scheme of the General Authority for Investment (al-Hay’a al-Amma al-Istithmari)
that began in 1995. This organization is an affiliate of the Ministry of Investment. An
individual who wants to start an agricultural business may dig a well after obtaining
permission from this organization.
The first two investment wells were drilled in 1996. These wells were drilled by
individuals and have a depth of 500 m. By law, the depths of investment wells must
be 300 m, and the area of irrigation of each well is defined as 10 feddans (1 feddan =
1.03784 acre, 1 feddan =4200 sq.m, and 1 acre = 4046.86 sq.m). Actual depths and
areas are often larger. Many wells have a depth of 500 m or less and are supposed
to last for 20 to 30 years. There are 10 wells of this type in Rashda, covering a total
area of approximately 950 feddans (1 feddan = 1.03784 acre, 1 feddan =4200 sq.m,
and 1 acre = 4046.86 sq.m) as of 2009.
Investment wells have an image of being for investors or businessmen, from the
outside. However, in the case of Rashda, the investors are mostly small investors who
are native villagers in the middle-income category. They are generally co-owned by
individuals, and their irrigated land is privately owned after being leased for 10 years
from the government.
Surface springs (‘ain sathi) are popularly recognized as springs that flow up by
themselves, although their depth is generally between 120 and 150 m. They are
drilled with permission from the Land Reclamation Fund. They are individually
or collectively owned and managed by the farmers. Their irrigated land is leased
to cultivators by the government, which owns the land. By law, a surface spring’s
irrigated area is defined as 10 feddans (1 feddan = 1.03784 acre, 1 feddan =4200
sq.m, and 1 acre = 4046.86 sq.m). There are about 25 springs of this type as of 2009.
5 Change in the Human-and-Water Relationship
5.1 Years of Well Construction
We collected data and information on approximately 70 wells and springs in Rashda
village. The information collected on these wells includes the name, type of well,
location, depth, year of drilling, mode of effusion, quantity of water flow at the time
E. Iwasaki
public and private companies, the army, and foreign investors, especially from the
Gulf countries.
Economic liberalization also affected the well drilling in Rashda village. In 1995,
the Ministry of Irrigation authorized to deliver licenses of drilling a well with a depth
less than 300 m to the individuals and companies. Since then, many small investors
who are mostly relatively wealthy villagers dug shallow wells. These wells are called
investment wells or surface springs according to the license and their depth.
Investment wells are exploited by one or several individuals (investors) under a
scheme of the General Authority for Investment (al-Hay’a al-Amma al-Istithmari)
that began in 1995. This organization is an affiliate of the Ministry of Investment. An
individual who wants to start an agricultural business may dig a well after obtaining
permission from this organization.
The first two investment wells were drilled in 1996. These wells were drilled by
individuals and have a depth of 500 m. By law, the depths of investment wells must
be 300 m, and the area of irrigation of each well is defined as 10 feddans (1 feddan =
1.03784 acre, 1 feddan =4200 sq.m, and 1 acre = 4046.86 sq.m). Actual depths and
areas are often larger. Many wells have a depth of 500 m or less and are supposed
to last for 20 to 30 years. There are 10 wells of this type in Rashda, covering a total
area of approximately 950 feddans (1 feddan = 1.03784 acre, 1 feddan =4200 sq.m,
and 1 acre = 4046.86 sq.m) as of 2009.
Investment wells have an image of being for investors or businessmen, from the
outside. However, in the case of Rashda, the investors are mostly small investors who
are native villagers in the middle-income category. They are generally co-owned by
individuals, and their irrigated land is privately owned after being leased for 10 years
from the government.
Surface springs (‘ain sathi) are popularly recognized as springs that flow up by
themselves, although their depth is generally between 120 and 150 m. They are
drilled with permission from the Land Reclamation Fund. They are individually
or collectively owned and managed by the farmers. Their irrigated land is leased
to cultivators by the government, which owns the land. By law, a surface spring’s
irrigated area is defined as 10 feddans (1 feddan = 1.03784 acre, 1 feddan =4200
sq.m, and 1 acre = 4046.86 sq.m). There are about 25 springs of this type as of 2009.
5 Change in the Human-and-Water Relationship
5.1 Years of Well Construction
We collected data and information on approximately 70 wells and springs in Rashda
village. The information collected on these wells includes the name, type of well,
location, depth, year of drilling, mode of effusion, quantity of water flow at the time