Theory question 109
Geography of Africa(a) Draw a sketch map of Africa. On the map, mark and name: (i) the Rivers Niger and Nile; (ii) two areas of irrigation agriculture along each river. (b) Outline three contributions of irrigation agriculture to any of the area shown in 9(a)(ii) above. (c) Highlight three problems facing irrigation agriculture in the area chosen in 9(b) above.
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(a) Map with River Niger (e.g. Office du Niger in Mali, Sokoto-Rima / Bakolori or Kano River Project in Nigeria) and River Nile (e.g. Gezira-Managil in Sudan, Nile valley and delta in Egypt).
(b) Allows farming all year and in dry areas; higher yields of rice, cotton, wheat, sugarcane, vegetables; food security; cash crops for export earn foreign exchange; employment; raw materials for industries; settlement and better living standards.
(c) Salinisation and waterlogging of soils; silting of canals; water-borne diseases (bilharzia, malaria); high cost of building and maintaining dams and canals; water weeds; evaporation losses; poor management; shortage of capital and skilled labour; disputes over water.
Name schemes on both rivers.