Photo story by Dick de Jong (IRC) from a workshop in Egypt.

1. IRC Photo story This photo story shows good and bad examples of water and land management along the Cairo-Alexandria desert road (2009)

2. On the Cairo-Alexandria desert road Mr. Hessy of the Desert Research Centre shows journalists from eight Arab countries good and bad examples of water and land management

3. A bad example Banana farms in desert conditions cost too much water and also cause damage to the soil conditions.

4. A good example A grape farm with drip irrigation that brings the water directly to the plant roots

5. Marketing organic farm products, but water shortage is imminent This is the Dina Farm shop. It sells directly on the road, and that makes it is a success. But the water is running out and they now need to buy water from a World Bank supported programme 17 kilometres away. The higher price is still under negotiation.

6. And even in the desert Huge billboards on the desert road advertise for villa-parks with swimming pools and golf courts.

7. Participants from the workshop: journalists from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Mauretania, Morocco, Tunisia, Sudan, and Yemen who made the desert tour.