The Nile Basin is 3.35 million sq. kms. The principal occupation of the people in the Nile Basin isagriculture. Pastoralism is a supplementary activity for both upper and lower basin countries. The upper riparians, namely, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have made little use of the Nile River. Whatever use they have made of the
river is confined to hydro-electric power generation. However, the lower riparians, Egypt and Sudan (Egypt more so) have exploited the water resources of the Nile extensively both for irrigation and
hydro-power. In short, the upper riparians have been the suppliers and the lower riparian the users of the Nile waters. a basin-wide agreement is necessary to avoid
potential conflicts and harness the water resources for mutual and equitable benefits. The necessity for harnessing the great potential of the Nile is underlined by the extent of its utilization.
