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$Unique_ID{COW01210}
$Pretitle{243}
$Title{Egypt
Chapter 3D. Crops and Natural Resources}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{Darrel R. Eglin}
$Affiliation{HQ, Department of the Army}
$Subject{million
tons
oil
production
gas
percent
feddans
cotton
foreign
1970s}
$Date{1982}
$Log{}
Country: Egypt
Book: Egypt, A Country Study
Author: Darrel R. Eglin
Affiliation: HQ, Department of the Army
Date: 1982
Chapter 3D. Crops and Natural Resources
Cotton
Egypt is famous for its long-staple cotton, and it is important to
agricultural incomes and exports. Although in total volume the country has
been a minor producer of cotton, its share of world output of long-staple
cotton amounted to about 45 percent in the late 1970s. In spite of its
importance the government has deemphasized cotton since about 1965, partly to
encourage greater production of food grains. Cotton acreage peaked at around 2
million feddans shortly after World War II but has been about 1.2 million
feddans since 1975. In 1981 cotton acreage was 1.18 million feddans, and
production of cotton lint was 508,000 tons. Yields have shown a slow upward
trend since 1900, although insects and other factors caused occasional
fluctuations (see table 8, Appendix A). Exports were 159,000 tons in 1980
compared with about 300,000 tons in the early 1970s. Domestic industry
currently consumes over half of cotton production. In the late 1970s the
government imported some short-staple cotton for the textile industry to free
additional amounts of the more valuable long-staple cotton for export.
Nearly all aspects of cotton production remained tightly controlled in
1982. Acreage totals were set by government agencies, approved varieties of
seeds were supplied by the government and could be planted only in specified
areas to avoid degenerative hybridization, and the government set prices paid
for cotton along the marketing chain, starting with the farmer. In an effort
to improve the use of arable land, the government has allowed farmers to plant
oilseeds such as soybeans in place of cotton in areas where yields are poor,
particularly in southern Egypt. The change would not appreciably affect output
and export of long-staple cotton, but it would make the country less dependent
on imports for vegetable oils and feed components.
Grains
Since the 1950s cereals (corn, wheat, rice, barley, and millet) often
accounted for between 40 and 50 percent of the total cropped area. In the late
1970s grain acreage usually ranged between 4.7 and 4.9 million feddans and
production between 8.1 and 8.2 million tons. As demand increased, imports
expanded to compensate for stagnating production.
Corn was the most important grain in both acreage and output because it
was the poor man's food, largely consumed by farm families. By the late 1970s
it was also used in preparing feed mixes for livestock. After 1975 acreage
averaged about 1.9 million feddans and production between 2.7 and 3.2 million
tons. In 1981 corn was planted on 1.9 million feddans and production amounted
to 3.2 million tons. Imports of corn were 944,000 tons in 1980 and 1.4 million
tons in 1981, largely for use in livestock feed mixtures. Imports were
expected to be around 1.2 million tons in 1982. Studies indicated that
production could be increased by about 70 percent, much of it by using
high-yielding seeds.
Wheat is the preferred bread grain; it is consumed primarily in urban
areas. Wheat acreage has been relatively stable, usually near 1.4 million
feddans since the 1960s, but yields increased, averaging 0.6 ton per hectare
since 1974. An estimated 1.4 million feddans were planted in wheat in 1981,
and production was 1.9 million tons. Wheat imports were 3.9 million tons the
same year, and flour imports were 1.4 million tons. Although Egypt was an
exporter of wheat until relatively recently, by 1981 wheat and flour imports
supplied about three-quarters of consumption. Studies showed wheat production
could be increased by about 50 percent, partly through use of high-yield
seeds. Government marketing quotas have not been enforced since 1977 and were
officially waived in 1979. Government agencies purchased only about one-fifth
of the 1981 crop.
Improvements in the water supply after World War II allowed rice acreage
to grow rapidly, from 374,000 feddans in 1952 to 1.2 million feddans in 1968;
production in those years was 517,000 tons (paddy or unmilled) and 2.6
million tons respectively. In 1981 rice was planted on 956,000 feddans, and
production was only 2.2 million tons, the smallest area and harvest since
1966. Soil salinity, lack of incentives because of official prices, and other
factors reduced the attraction of planting rice. Studies indicated that
production could be raised by 30 percent. Domestic consumption sharply
curtailed exports of rice, from 227,000 tons (milled) in 1976 to an expected
25,000 tons in 1982.
Sorghum and barley were minor grain crops. In 1981 sorghum was planted
on 412,000 feddans, and production was 645,000 tons. Barley was planted on
91,000 feddans, and production was 103,000 tons.
Clover
Egyptian clover is peculiar to the country and has been known since the
time of the pharaohs. It is the major fodder for draft animals and builds up
nitrogen in the soil. For this reason it is grown and ploughed under before
planting cotton. The increasing demand for animal protein by a growing
population with rising incomes added to the pressure for fodder because
grazing areas are almost nonexistent. Since the 1950s the berseem acreage has
expanded at the particular expense of cotton. Between 1975 and 1978 clover
averaged 2.8 million feddans a year compared with 2.2 million feddans in the
early 1950s. Production data were unavailable in mid-1982.
Sugarcane
The upper Nile Valley is nearly ideal for growing sugarcane, and most of
the cane fields and sugar mills are located there. Sugarcane requires large
amounts of water and chemical fertilizer, and development of irrigation and
fertilizer plants in Upper Egypt in the 1950s and 1960s facilitated expansion
of the industry. Sugarcane acreage increased from 92,000 feddans in 1952 to
over 250,000 feddans by the early 1980s, while sugarcane production increased
from 3.3 million to over 8.6 million tons, reflecting some improvement in
yields. Sugarcane also requires good drainage, and portions of Upper Egypt's
sugarcane area suffered increased salinity and waterlogging in the 1970s
because of inadequate drainage, and this lowered yields. Sugarcane is one of
the most profitable crops to farmers. Local refineries contract with
individual farmers for their supply of cane, effectively controlling sugarcane
acreage. In 1980 sugar beets were planted in the delta for the first time.
Fruits and Vegetables
Egypt grows a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, and their importance
increased sharply after 1952. Acreage of vegetables increased from 252,000
feddans in 1952 to 1 million feddans in 1979; vegetable production rose from
over 1.8 million tons in 1952 to 7.8 million tons in 1979. Tomatoes, potatoes,
onions, and garlic were the most important vegetable crops. Fruit acreage
increased from 94,000 feddans in 1952 to 361,000 feddans in 1981. Production
of fruits rose from 894,000 tons in 1952 to 2.6 million tons in 1981. Over
half of the acreage was planted in citrus fruit trees; dates and grapes were
other important fruits. A major spur to the expansion of fruits and vegetables
was a rapid rise in prices paid farmers, because citrus fruits and grapes were
the main produce for which the government attempted to regulate prices. Most
of the fruits and vegetables were grown for urban markets, but some were
exported. Large investments in processing, packaging, and marketing facilities
would be required for Egypt to enter the competitive export market on a
substantial scale, but Egypt possesses a natural advantage in that its fruits
and vegetables ripen a few months ahead of the season in Europe