The Egyptian Soil and Water Research Institute (SWRI) signed a contract worth 3.5 million French Francs with Spot Image for the next phase of the Agricultural Land Information System (ALIS) project. Phase 1 was completed in late 1993 with the delivery of resources enabling SWRI to monitor and manage Egyptian agricultural land using Spot imagery. This year, the focus will shift to ensuring effective technology transfer to the Egyptian agricultural authorities. The two main priorities will be the ALIS system proper and agricultural statistics.
The ALIS system will be used to meet urgent planning needs, to manage water supplies for newly irrigated land, and to monitor urban encroachment on farmland. The technology transfer effort will be intensified and Egyptian staff skills raised to meet changing needs including project extension to new areas or new themes. Technology transfer is one of the main aims of the entire ALIS project.
The work planned for 1995 will enable Egyptian staff to exploit the ALIS system and manage the country's agricultural land with the support of just one expatriate expert during the six-month growing season.