20-04-2025
Ministry of Water Resources to produce series of documentaries on history of irrigation in Egypt
Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sweilem meets with Ministry's media team, joined by Egyptian Gazette newspaper's Journalist Amira Sayed- press photo
CAIRO – April 2025: Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sweilem directed to produce a series of documentaries highlighting the historical evolution of irrigation in Egypt.
The Minister's dierctions were gien after holding a meeting with the Ministry's media team, joined by Egyptian Gazette newspaper's Journalist Amira Sayed, who recently won the Excellence Award in the Graduate Documentary Competition at BEA's international digital media and broadcast contest for her documantary 'Ladies of the Nile.' The short film was produced by the the Kamal Adham Center for Television and Digital Journalism at the American University, in cooperation with the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources.
During the meeting, Sweilem emphasized the significance of documenting both the ancient and modern aspects of Egypt's irrigation legacy. He noted that the ancient Egyptian civilization, which flourished along the banks of the Nile River, was a pioneer in developing some of the earliest irrigation technologies known to mankind. Preserving and showcasing this heritage, he said, is essential to honoring Egypt's longstanding expertise in water management.
The Minister highlighted that these documentaries would serve as a powerful tool to raise public awareness about the vital role of water in Egyptian society and the enduring connection between the Nile and the Egyptian people.
Irrigation-related heritage
The Minister siad that that Egypt is home to numerous historical water infrastructure landmarks, such as the Kufra Dam, which dates back to the era of the ancient Egyptians. Remarkably, parts of this ancient structure still stand today, serving as a testament to Egypt's early advancements in engineering and water management.
He added that Egypt has several historical water facilities, such as the Old Delta Barrage, established in 1862; the Old Aswan Dam, established in 1902; the Old Assiut Barrage (1902); the Old Zefta Barrage (1902); the Old Esna Barrage (1906); the Old Nag Hammadi Barrage (1930), and the Edfina Barrage (1951).
Additionaly, Sweilem said that the Ministry also possesses numerous important collections and documents, such as books, maps, reports, photos, encyclopedias, and rare albums, such as the Description of Egypt , the 1869 Suez Canal Opening Ceremony Album, and the 1928 Atlas of Maps of Egypt , and others.
Irrigation Museum
The Ministry is currently coordinating with UNESCO to establish an Irrigation Museum aimed at preserving Egypt's irrigation heritage and documenting both ancient and modern efforts in effective water management, the Minister said.
The museum will serve as a hub for safeguarding historical irrigation facilities and restoring significant archival materials—including books, maps, reports, and photographs—related to the development of water systems throughout Egyptian history. Thus, the Minister ordered to make an inventory of all the Ministry's historical holdings and facilities.
