| المستخلص: |
The study aimed to investigate the role of anthropogenic factors into exacerbating problems of high siltation by Baraka Rivers well as mesquite (Prosopis spp.) expansion in Delta Toker agricultural scheme which eventually led to declining agricultural land. Field work was carried out through general discussions with farmers and Head of staff of the scheme during 27-30 March 2011, in addition to observation; office files data and satellite images concerning mesquite expansion from 1976 to 2000. Results show that annual cumulative siltation by using the lower range value of sediment load (250 Million M3 of silt X 55 days) gives 24.5 Mm3 of silt and for the higher value of sediment load gives (980 Million M3 of silt X 55) gives 20.6 106 Mm3 of silt. Collapse of partition built between eastern and western delta, lack of maintenance of the established terraces organizing distribution of irrigation, mismanagement of surface water, absence of proper irrigation system and methods of water administration, absence of maintenance and adequate financing due to privatization of the scheme for more than fifteen years are the major anthropogenic factors exacerbating high siltation in the Delta. The annual areal expansion of m3esquite in the Delta between 1962 and 2011 is estimated at 6,122 feddans where the anthropogenic factors which have contributed into mesquite expansion in the Delta have included conflict between farmers, herders and charcoal traders, lack of adequate finance to eradicate mesquite, lacking development programs to invest into mesquite free areas, tribalism which dominates land owner ship and farmers’ view the Delta land as an appropriate for their own and those land holdings by other tribes from outside the Delta and Sudan is violation of their rights. Methods of irrigation and farming used are lacking proper agricultural technical packages which give chance to mesquite expansion. These factors have contributed into decline of cultivated land from 406,000 feddans to 40,000 feddans by 2011. The author proposes some suggestion's to help alleviate these two problems.
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