WAEC Geography 1988 Theory question 114

Theory question 114

Geography of Africa

Give an account of irrigation agriculture in the Nile Basin under the following headings (a) need for irrigation (b) areas (c) methods (d) crops grown (e) importance

Show the model answer
Model answer

(a) Desert climate with very little rain; high evaporation; to grow crops all year and feed a large population; river floods only seasonally
(b) Nile valley and delta in Egypt; Gezira (between Blue and White Nile) and other schemes in Sudan
(c) Basin (flood) irrigation; perennial irrigation using dams and barrages (Aswan High Dam, Sennar) and canals; shaduf, sakia and Archimedean screw; pumps
(d) Cotton, rice, wheat, sugar cane, maize, millet, beans, vegetables, citrus
(e) Two or three crops a year; food for the population; cotton exports earn foreign exchange; employment; dams also give hydro-electric power and flood control

Explanation

Name a scheme or dam for the areas and methods.