|
The agricultural activity in Egypt has always had a direct and effective influence on political and socio-economic life in Egypt, in olden as well as modern times.
Thousands of years ago, the ancient Egyptians, building on agriculture as their core activity, had successfully established the oldest civilization ever known in history, i.e. the Pharaonic civilization. As the ancient Egyptians settled on both banks of the Nile and managed to grow plants, domesticate animals and harness this great river, they invented farming equipment and tools. They also invented irrigation devices, dug canals and built bridges, dams and meters.
Hence, Egypt was the first country where crops were planted at scheduled dates. The Egyptians devised a farming calendar as well as a special irrigation system. Moreover, they were specifically interested in depicting the agriculture processes on their graves walls, as an ever living witness that the Egyptian is the oldest and cleverest farmer ever known in history.
In recent times, the agriculture sector still represents a mainstay of Egyptian national economy. This sector ensures food security and provides several inputs needed for various important industries. Agriculture exports contribute a sizeable share to Egyptian exports and consequently help develop national income. Workforce involved in the agriculture and irrigation activity represents about one third of total Egyptian labor force.
First: Agriculture Sector During 2002/03, several programs were implemented, realizing tangible achievements as shown by the following indicators:
Investments: Investments in this sector during 2002/03 are estimated at about LE 8.9 billion and are targeted to reach about LE 9.6 billion in 2003/04, accounting for 13.7 percent of gross investments and 28.7 percent of sectorial investments broken down as follows:
- LE 4.4 billion for government sector and economic bodies;
- LE 5.2 billion for enterprise sector (public, private, other than Law.203 companies)
Production: Gross agricultural production at current prices for 2002/03 is expected to reach about LE 81.2 billion, of which LE 742 million are generated by the public sector and about LE 80.5 billion by the private sector. This figure is projected to reach LE 86.9 billion in 2003/04, of which LE 781 million are to be generated by the public sector, and about LE 86.1 billion by the private sector.
Product: Agricultural product in 2002/03 (at current prices) is expected to reach about LE 61.6 billion, of which about LE 238 million are to be provided by the public sector and about LE 61.3 billion by the private sector. Moreover, gross agricultural product in 2003/04 is expected to hit about LE 66.2 billion, of which LE 250 million are to be provided by public sector and LE 66 billion by the private sector.
Exports: Agriculture exports, over the period from January to December 2002 showed about LE 3.2 billion, targeted to rise to LE 3.9 billion in 2003/04.
Labor Force: Labor force involved in the agriculture and irrigation sector showed about 5,153,100 workers in 2002/03, accounting for 28.3 percent of total Egyptian labor force. This number is targeted to reach 5,286,100 workers in 2003/04 with an increase of 133,000 workers accounting for 28.2 percent of total labor force.
Food Security: The agriculture sector successfully managed to achieve self-sufficiency in many crops and agricultural products and to reduce food gap in strategic crops as follows:
- More than 55 percent of our needs in wheat and flour were provided.
- Self-sufficiency at a rate of 76.2 percent in sugar was achieved.
- Self-sufficiency and surplus for export in cotton, rice, vegetables, fruits and medicinal and aromatic plants were achieved.
- Self-sufficiency was achieved in poultry, eggs, dairy, fish and meat production at a rate of 75 percent.
Agricultural Development: The agriculture sector has made tangible progress in horizontal and vertical agricultural development. Real growth rate of agriculture and irrigation sector showed about 3.4 percent in 2002/03. Growth rate of agricultural production value including various commodity groups (botanical, animal, fish) hit 6.3 percent this year. Agricultural income showed LE 55.5 billion. Credit made available to the agriculture sector showed LE 14 billion.
Major achievements include the following:
I- Vertical Development:
During this year more expanded use was made of advanced seed and transplant production technologies. This resulted in surplus production available for export in all crops excluding wheat, maize and sugar. Moreover, the agriculture sector successfully managed to realize highest productivity per feddan worldwide in crops like rice, cotton and sugar cane. Crop area reached about 14.4 million feddans, targeted to rise by 1.4 million feddans, thus bringing total crop area to 15.8 million feddans in 2003/04.
In agricultural quantitative production, the following achievements were made in 2003:
- Seeds showed about 20.18 million tons.
- Vegetables production about 16.3 million tons.
- Fruits production about 7.99 million tons.
- Sugar cane production about 16 million tons and sugar beet 3.2 million tons.
- Red meat production about 607,000 tons.
- Poultry production 1,157,000 tons.
- Total fish production 799,000 tons.
- Cow and buffalo milk production 4.1 million tons, excluding sheep and goat milk.
Productivity Per Feddan of Main Crops in 2001 Against 2002*
II- Horizontal Development:
Efforts exerted in horizontal agricultural development resulted in an increase in the arable area by 64,000 feddans during 2002/03 thus bringing the cultivated area to 8.3 million feddans. Further 100,000 feddans are expected to be added in 2003/04.
Areas of Infrastructure and Internal Reclamation Projects under 2003/04 Plan Compared to 2002/03** (1000 feddan)
Mubarak Project for Young Graduates: Started in 1987, this project benefited about 50,000 young people, who have been, up to 2001/02 put in possession of 250,000 feddans. During 2002/03 internal reclamation works have been completed in an area of 27,000 feddans, to be distributed within the project.
Internal reclamation works for 25,000 feddans are targeted to be completed in 2003/04 and will be distributed to about 5,000 young people. This area is broken down as follows:
* Socio-Economic Development Plan, 2003/04
Second: Irrigation Sector The irrigation sector plays a commanding role in the development process. Several projects covering a variety of activities under the Min-istry of Irrigation have been completed. Total investments at an estimated cost of about LE 2.377 billion were implemented during 2002/03.
Major achievements made are as follows:
1- Maintenance of Water Resource and Protection of River Nile: Works worth about LE 145 million were implemented, including the following:
- A number of 300 artificial works were replaced and revamped countrywide.
- Canals at a length of about 30 km were lined.
- River Nile embankments at a length of about 50 km were shored up.
- About 200 km of tiling works have been completed out of a targeted total of 900 km.
2- Water Resources Development: Works worth about LE 150 million were implemented, including the following:
- Qalabasho and Abu Madhi pumps stations were completed, to irrigate a cordon of 65,000 feddans.
- A number of 4 dams in Wadi al-Grafi were carried out.
- A number of 18 flood ways and related artificial works were completed.
- A number of 144 wells distributed in al-Gharbyia, al-Minia, Giza, Beni-Suef, New Valley and South Sinai were drilled and prepared.
3- Horizontal Expansion Projects: Projects worth about LE 970 million were implemented, including the following:
- Sheikh Zayed and as-Salam Canals projects; implemented projects are reviewed under the Mega Projects chapter.
4- Upgrading Irrigation in Old Areas: Works worth about LE 200 million were implemented. Irrigation networks were revamped in about 43,500 feddans, including 33,000 feddans in al-Beheira governorate and 205,00 feddans in Kafer al-Sheikh governorate. Moreover, by-canals in Beni Adi in Assuit, New Ahnasia and West Isna were revamped.
5- Reservoir and Barrage Projects: There are 11 main barrages and 17 direct inlet barrages on River Nile and its two branches and 37 barrages are located on tributaries and main canals. Works worth about LE 170 million were implemented during 2002/03, including the following:
6- Agricultural Drainage Project: - Works worth about LE 370 million were implemented.
- Since the beginning of the agricultural drainage programme, tiled drainage networks were implemented on an area of 5.3 million feddans as well as general purpose drainage networks which were upgraded on an area of 6.8 million feddan.
7- Protection of the Egyptian Coasts Projects: Works worth about LE 42 million were implemented. Protection works were carried out for the Mediterranean coasts over a distance of 4 km.
8- Replacing and Revamping Projects of Lifting Stations: Works worth about LE 199 million were implemented. A number of 10 pumps stations for new projects were established and 70 stations for improving irrigation and drainage within a cordon of 500,000 feddans were replaced and revamped, accordingly agricultural production rose by 10 percent.
9- Maintaining Safety and the Efficiency of the High Dam and Aswan Reservoir: Works worth about LE 76 million were carried out, including the following:
- Disjoined rocks under the High Dam power station yard were treated and bolstered.
- Seismic stations around Lake Nasser were upgraded.
- A new research ship (High Dams) was built.
- The widening of Toshka spillway canal (Phase I) is underway at a length of 20 km.
- Under the 2003/04 plan, it is targeted to pursue the water resources development program .
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Print this page 
Mail this page 