Gov’t increases rice cultivation area by 100k feddans but only using treated wastewater

The Irrigation and Agriculture Ministries have agreed to increase the area allocated for growing rice by 100k feddans this season, but only if the expanse is irrigated with treated wastewater, senior Irrigation Ministry officials tell Al Shorouk. The decision brings the total area of rice cultivation to 824k feddans, he adds. This comes as the government clamps down on the cultivation of water-intensive crops through the recently-passed amendments to the Agriculture Act.