Early farming villages in the Sahara desert had it thought when it came to growing enough food for their survivance. But soon enough they learnt that the same time each year the Nile river flooded for six months, leaving behind a rich brown layer of slit that was suitable for growing wheat, beans, barley, or even cotton. They learnt to plant after this flood and developed short canals leading to fields near the river, providing fresh water for year-round irrigation.
