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Desert farming is the practice of developing agriculture in deserts. As agriculture depends upon irrigation and water supply, farming in arid regions where water is scarce is a challenge. However, desert farming has been practiced by humans for thousands of years. In the Negev, there is evidence to suggest agriculture as far back as 5000 BC. [1]
A satellite image of the Sahara, the world's largest hot desert and third largest desert after Antarctica and the Arctic. Desert greening is the process of afforestation or revegetation of deserts for ecological restoration (biodiversity), sustainable farming and forestry, but also for reclamation of natural water systems and other ecological systems that support life.
Agriculture is a main source of income for many desert communities. The increase in desertification in these regions has degraded the land to such an extent where people can no longer productively farm and make a profit.
The Wadi Rum Consultancy of Wadi Rum Organic Farms, [1] is an example of desert greening. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] Begun in 2010, it is located in historic Wadi Rum , in southern Jordan . Overseen by permaculture expert Geoff Lawton , it has established a sustainable agriculture system.
In the private sector, farmers receive long-term interest-free government loans and low-cost water, fuel, electricity, and duty-free imports of raw materials and machinery. Although Saudi Arabia is widely thought of as a desert, it has regions suitable for agriculture.
Saudi Arabia is suffering from a major depletion of the water in its underground aquifers and a resultant break down and disintegration of its agriculture as a consequence. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] As a result of the catastrophe, Saudi Arabia has bought agricultural land in the United States, [ 4 ] [ 5 ] Argentina, [ 6 ] and Africa.
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Traditional desert farming systems have long been established in North Africa, irrigation being the key to success in an area where water stress is a limiting factor to growth. Techniques that can be used include drip irrigation, the use of organic residues or animal manures as fertilisers and other traditional agricultural management practices.