Agricultural Water Management under Water Scarcity in Algeria: Practices and Future Perspectives

Algeria is among the countries most severely affected by water scarcity due to its arid and semi-arid climate, irregular rainfall, and high evaporation rates. Agriculture, which consumes over 70% of the nation's freshwater resources, is vital to national food security.

This study evaluates agricultural water management in Algeria by integrating climatic, hydrological, and agricultural data from national institutions to estimate crop water requirements using the FAO CROPWAT 8.0 model.

Results indicate that total water requirements range from 1,423 hm³ in the Oranie–Chott Chergui basin to 3,315 hm³ in the Sahara, with groundwater supplying about 67% of irrigation demand; irrigated areas expanded from 350,000 ha in 2000 to over 1.3 M ha in 2020, while regional disparities persist, especially in southern basins where irrigation efficiency remains below national averages.

The findings emphasize the urgent need to improve irrigation efficiency, enhance water productivity, and strengthen coordination among basin institutions, as current trends indicate that without significant efficiency gains, agricultural water demand may exceed 11.3 Bm³ by 2030, intensifying competition for water resources across sectors.

Sustainable water management in Algeria demands the adoption of modern irrigation technologies, the implementation of basin-scale governance, and effective groundwater regulation, as the integration of these strategies is essential to ensure water security and sustain agricultural productivity amid increasing scarcity.