📚 Volume 32, Issue 12
📋 ID: ebHBzY9
Authors
Ming Müller , Oluwaseun Dlamini, Philippe Roux
Abstract
In recent years, climate change and recurring drought events in Algeria have caused increasing variability in rainfall patterns and heightened pressure on already-limited water resources. This imbalance between water availability and demand has resulted in reduced precipitation and adverse effects on both economic activity and community livelihoods.
The province of Mostaganem, characterized by a semi-arid climate, suffers from particularly constrained water resources. Agriculture accounts for approximately 74% of total water consumption in the region, yet much of this water is used through outdated irrigation techniques that result in significant inefficiencies and waste. Irrigation water is predominantly drawn from small and medium hydraulic (PMH) systems and uncontrolled wells. As agricultural demand relies heavily on groundwater, overexploitation has led to a notable decline in aquifer levels, threatening the long-term viability of the province’s water supply.
This study provides a diagnostic assessment of current irrigation practices, with the aim of identifying inadequacies and proposing measures to support water conservation and improve irrigation efficiency. The observed overexploitation of groundwater has already reached a critical level, posing a risk to future agricultural sustainability. However, with the implementation of targeted policies and interventions aimed at promoting rational water use, it is expected that local water management authorities will be better positioned to meet growing agricultural demands.
The province of Mostaganem, characterized by a semi-arid climate, suffers from particularly constrained water resources. Agriculture accounts for approximately 74% of total water consumption in the region, yet much of this water is used through outdated irrigation techniques that result in significant inefficiencies and waste. Irrigation water is predominantly drawn from small and medium hydraulic (PMH) systems and uncontrolled wells. As agricultural demand relies heavily on groundwater, overexploitation has led to a notable decline in aquifer levels, threatening the long-term viability of the province’s water supply.
This study provides a diagnostic assessment of current irrigation practices, with the aim of identifying inadequacies and proposing measures to support water conservation and improve irrigation efficiency. The observed overexploitation of groundwater has already reached a critical level, posing a risk to future agricultural sustainability. However, with the implementation of targeted policies and interventions aimed at promoting rational water use, it is expected that local water management authorities will be better positioned to meet growing agricultural demands.
📝 How to Cite
Ming Müller , Oluwaseun Dlamini, Philippe Roux (2025). "The Influence of Climate Change on Irrigation Technology Selection in the Mostaganem Region (Algeria)". Wulfenia, 32(12).