In 1993, the total cultivated area was 7.23 million ha, of which 6.57 million ha consisted of annual crops and 0.66 million ha consisted of permanent crops. It is low in the mountain and desert zones, where it is concentrated around the oases. The most important rivers are equipped with dams, allowing surface water to be stored for use during the dry seasons. Of this total of 11 km , 7.5 km was surface water and 3.5 km groundwater. A major effort is being undertaken, starting in 1996, to increase this percentage within the next eight years.
Energy costs represent a large part of the total costs.
The schemes in the mountains mostly use springwater, distributed by gravity. In all schemes, the water distribution is based on rotating turns. This unit also forms the basis for the dimensions of the canals in the large schemes. It is in charge of water distribution control in urban areas and in some rural municipalities. On the 20 September 1995, a new Water Law became effective.