Egypt's Water Resources Ministry and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a memo of understanding on Thursday regarding a rehabilitation and water management improvement project for principal canals on the Nile river. The project will cover the Dayrout water barrages, which consist of six barrages pumping into seven canals serving 1.6 million feddans in Assiut, Menya, Beni Suef, Fayyoum and Giza, said assistant Water Resources Minister Tareq Qotb, who signed the memo with a JICA assessment mission. The aging canals have been built 140 years ago and need rehabilitation, Qotb said.