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Drainage System in Irrigated Sector Key for Better Water Management Gezira Scheme—Sudan



Author(s)

Mufadal E. M. Ahmed1 and Abu Obieda B. Ahmed2

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DOI:10.17265/1934-7359/2026.07.005

1. Eng. National Coordinator for Irrigation Infra-Structure Rehabilitation Unit (RIRP)-(MWRIE), Wad Medani 21111, Sudan 2. Associated Prof. Hydraulic Research Centre-(MWRIE), Wad Medani 21111, Sudan

The agriculture remains a key sector and the pillar of Sudan life, is representing the main driving force for its economy and as an income generating sector for more than 50% of households. The sector accounts for about 31% of GDP (Central Bank of Sudan CBOS-Report, 2015); the irrigated subsector as part of agricultural sector is the core for production of cash crops (cotton and sugar cane…) and cereals. In mega irrigation schemes such as GIS (Gezira Irrigation Scheme), the forerunner of all major schemes in Sudan with an area of about 0.882 million ha, the drainage (surface) system plays significant role as well as irrigation system. Water logging and hence the significant reduction in crop production, coupled with the negative environmental impacts stand as strong obstacles against harnessing the available water resources for better livelihoods. This paper is a contribution to Sudan government effort towards upgrading GIS. The drainage system within the scheme didn’t receive enough attention and had witnessed severe deterioration due to several reasons taken place during the life of the scheme, which accelerate the spread of silt and weeds in the network system of the scheme. The paper discusses and attempts to diagnose, analyze the performance of the GIS drainage system through identifying its arrangement, design, capacities, and adequacy to contribute in solution of water management constraints to sustainable development, and provide a set of amendments and improvements to the existing system including revision of its design criteria and how that improvement, if implemented properly, can result in better water management and enabling environment for production.

 Surface drainage, water logging, design criteria, Gezira Irrigation Scheme, water management.

Mufadal E. M. Ahmed and Abu Obieda B. Ahmed. (2026). Drainage System in Irrigated Sector Key for Better Water Management Gezira Scheme—Sudan,  Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture, July 2026, Vol. 20, No. 7, 297-309.