the Souf

At 600 km southeast of Algiers, Souf is an oasis in the desert. Its capital, El-Oued, derives its prosperity and reputation of Deglet Nour dates, varieties produced by its palm groves and exported to Europe. To grow their economy, Sufis have intensified their production by extending irrigated fruit and vegetables destined for markets in large cities. Cereals, fodder and vegetables are grown in large circular plots (each can cover 60 hectares) sprayed by a central pivot. These high power devices greatly reduce production costs. But this reflects more the catastrophe of flowering desert. The massive irrigation and installation of running water in town exhaust the deep aquifer where water is drilled. These water discharged to the surface pollute the superficial layer which swells and now exposed in many places: the houses are won by moisture and lands are invaded by stagnant water that has already asphyxiated a million palm trees.