Impact of the Invasion of Modern Irrigation Systems in the Oasis of Lahmar, South Western Algeria

Abstract

For centuries, the oasis dwellers of the Algerian Sahara exploit the groundwater through the use of traditional techniques such as foggaras (traditional technique of irrigation in the Algerian southwest), and wells of chadouf (pendulum wells). In the oasis of Lahmar, in Southwest Algeria, the farmers use foggaras (known by the name of foggaras ain - foggaras of source) to irrigate their fields. Nowadays though, due to the indiscriminate use of modern systems (boreholes and pumps) to procure water for irrigation and urban consumption, over-exploitation and drying off of water sources have been one the rise while traditional techniques are becoming day by day out of service and, what is more, palm groves have almost completely disappeared.

Keywords

• oasis
• Lahmar
• foggara
• sequoia
• palm grove