Introduction

The majority of the Libyan lands are considered to be located in dry desert orbits in which the rain is about to be missing in the conditions of this continental climate, which led who rareness of the irrigated lands in those lands despite of the existence of wide areas of agricultural lands, where the main factor for agriculture is the availability of water by which the life is achieved.

God said “We made everything alive by water “

And due to the proportional increase in population and the industrial & agricultural development in the areas of north Libya, which resulted in the increase of consumptions and severe draw of the water resources available in this area, and the deterioration of its quality due to leakage and interference of the sea water to the water holding layers which resulted in the contamination of the potable water and the increase in level of salinity therein which in turn led to the deterioration of the agricultural lands.

The technical and hydrological studies made by many specialized companies that were performing the investigation, drilling and exploration of oil since the beginning of 60’s of the last century, indicated the existence of huge underground basins of water in the desert areas at south Libya where it was advised, at the latest 70’s, to utilize this water especially that Libya is suffering a great rareness in the underground water sources, and it was necessary to think in the conveyance of this water to the north for the possibility of utilizing the same, and when the corporeal capabilities for the water conveyance process have become available, where the Libyan people paid the cost of this work by the participation of each Libyan for the completion of this project.

And through this project, huge quantities of pure water flowed from its natural sources inside the desert at south Libya which was accumulated since thousands of years during the rainy ages and they settled inside the ground in the rocky layers which are not permeable to water, then this water was conveyed in a natural flow through desert from the south to the north where the fertile agricultural areas.

And according to what was shown by the technical, economical and social studies, of possibility of conveying these huge quantities underground water to the areas in which the fertile agricultural lands, higher population density and agricultural basic infrastructure are available, where about (6.5)million cubic meters of water are conveyed daily for agricultural and industrial purposes and the potable water, and more than ( 75%) thereof has been allocated for use in the agricultural purposes which in turn will reduce the increasing draw from the underground water in the coastal strip areas.

For optimum investment of this water and to achieve the highest economic revenue, investment boards were established, among which the board for investment of the water of Jabel Al-Hasawnah – Aljefara system of the man-made river, to which the execution of the investment works of water of Jabel Al Hasawnah Aljefara system of the man-made river located in the area extending from Jabel Al Hasawnah in the south to the coastal areas in the north west of Libya has been assigned, and these works are represented in planning, division of the farms, laying the irrigation networks and construction of the tanks for purpose of providing the projects with their needs of the irrigation water according to the crop structure of each.

The board has accomplished all the works related to the technical, economic and social studies and the basic works represented in surveying, soil studies, laboratory studies and preparing the explanatory maps of the soil, through which the areas viable for investment were specified, and the engineering designs were prepared for the projects targeted to be provided with the man-made river water, and starting the stage of execution which included the planning, division of the farms and construction of the tanks, in addition to implementing the pumping stations, main and branch distribution networks and the electrical works complementary there to for providing the targeted projects with their needs of water so that they enter to the operation stage.

All these works aim at the enlargement of the agricultural lands and increasing the rates of production for achieving self-sufficiency and the food security which has become one of the weapons used for conquering the peoples, stealing their will and affecting on their political and economic independence.