Water Resources Management at the Nexus of Food Security and Coastal Stress

This case study focuses on water resources management in the Coastal Nile Delta Basin (NDB) in Egypt, with particular emphasis on Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate. The governorate is located in the northern Nile Delta and covers an area of 4,319 km², within UTM Zone 36, between 30°59′–31°35′ N latitude and 30°22′–31°18′ E longitude. The area lies at the downstream end of the Nile system, directly influenced by Mediterranean coastal dynamics.

Kafr El-Sheikh is a cornerstone of Egypt’s national food system. The governorate includes a total cultivated area of 285,207 ha, making substantial contributions to domestic production of key food crops, including rice, maize, and wheat.

Beyond crop production, the governorate plays a critical role in Egypt’s fish supply, hosting a large share of national fish production. Both capture fisheries (marine, brackish, and freshwater) and aquaculture industries are heavily concentrated in the area, particularly along the coastal lagoons and low-lying deltaic zones.

The governorate is one of the most densely populated regions in the Nile Delta, with a population of approximately 3.5 million inhabitants. This high population density intensifies competition for water among agriculture, aquaculture, domestic use, and environmental needs.

Total annual rainfall ranges between 56 and 227 mm, with precipitation occurring almost entirely during the winter season. Despite this variability, rainfall remains negligible compared to agricultural water demand, reinforcing dependence on managed surface water and groundwater resources. According to the Geological Map of Egypt (CONCO–Coral / EGPC, 1987), the study area is underlain by Quaternary sedimentary sequences. These unconsolidated deltaic deposits form the foundation of the Nile Delta aquifer system, which is highly productive but also vulnerable to salinization and seawater intrusion, particularly in coastal zones.

Key Water Management Challenges:

• Balancing irrigation water demand with limited freshwater availability
• Managing interactions between agriculture, aquaculture, and coastal water quality
• Addressing salinity risks in deltaic soils and groundwater
• Sustaining food production under climate variability and population growth

The Coastal Nile Delta Basin exemplifies the strategic vulnerability of deltaic systems where food security, dense populations, and coastal processes converge. Kafr El-Sheikh provides a critical case for testing integrated water management approaches that aim to safeguard agricultural productivity, protect coastal aquifers, and enhance resilience under increasing climatic and demographic pressures.