Food & climate
An Egyptian expert called for not planting wheat in the southern regions of the country, and advised staying away from planting yellow corn, and relying on sorghum, and using it as fodder due to the high temperatures.
Dr. Taher Fayed, professor of agronomy at the Faculty of Agriculture at Ain Shams University, said that wheat is a three-carbon plant and does not tolerate high temperatures, so it should not be planted in the south of the country due to its negative impact on productivity.
Fayed ruled out what is being circulated in the local media about achieving productivity per acre of up to 28 ardebs in the Toshka region in the south of the country, and said, “This is unbelievable because the climate of this region is hot, which prevents the production of a large crop.”
The temperature rises in the south of Egypt compared to the north.
During the workshop, organized by the Center for Development Studies and Policies (EUMENA), on Sunday, December 15, 2024, under the title: “Climate Change and Migration: A New Vision for Sustainable Development,” Fayed added that the same thing is facing yellow corn, as the high and increasing temperatures in Egypt reduce its productivity.
While presenting his point of view in the workshop, which was covered by the “Food & Climate” platform, Farid sees hope in growing corn and using it as feed for meat-producing animals. He said: “The heat increases the vegetative growth of corn, which can be well exploited in feed, and this corn can be grown for a long period of the year from April to November.”
Food Security
Dr. Adly Al-Saadawi, Professor of Agricultural Economics at Fayoum University, said during the workshop that food security in Egypt is facing danger, as the country imports about $20 billion worth of food annually.
He pointed out the problems of water shortages in the country, and at the same time the expected effects that the country may face as a result of the construction of the Renaissance Dam in Ethiopia, which threatens Egypt’s historical share of the Nile River waters.
The Nile Basin Cooperative Framework Agreement, known as the “Entebbe Agreement”, officially entered into force on October 13 of this year (2024), at a time when tensions continue between Egypt and Ethiopia over the Renaissance Dam.
Despite the completion of the fifth filling of the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam last September, and the start of water flowing into Egypt after the opening of the dam’s upper spillway gates, Cairo is still facing a serious crisis that threatens its historical share of the Nile River waters, by implementing this agreement.
The Entebbe Agreement was concluded in 2010, and it imposes a legal framework for resolving disputes and conflicts, ends the historical shares of Egypt and Sudan, imposes a redistribution of water, and allows upstream countries to establish water projects without an agreement with downstream countries, which is rejected by both Cairo and Khartoum.
Exploiting rainwater
Dr. Taher Fayed urged Egypt to exploit rainwater, noting that the country is located in the arid regions, where the average rainfall throughout the year is less than 25 mm, but there are areas that enjoy a much higher level, the most prominent of which is the Rafah area in Sinai, where the rainfall level is 300 mm.
Rafah is located in northern Egypt and shares borders with Gaza (Palestine).
Fayed added that the future of agriculture in Egypt lies in the optimal exploitation of the Sheikh Zuweid area in Sinai, which enjoys a higher rainfall level. He expected the country to obtain 5 billion cubic meters of water annually if rainwater is exploited.
Fayed warned of the decrease in Lake Nasser water, expecting further decline in water quantities with the worsening of climate change and rising temperatures.
Dr. Mohamed Barakat, Professor of Rural Society at the Faculty of Agriculture at Ain Shams University, said that the per capita share of agricultural land in Egypt has declined from one acre at the beginning of the last millennium to less than one carat per capita now, which means a decline in resources, leading to internal migration.
On the other hand, former Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Ayman Farid Abu Hadid, pointed out that Egypt has the potential to export its agricultural products to Europe throughout the year.
He added during the workshop, organized by the Center for Development Studies and Policies (EUMENA), today, that identifying regions and their climatic specifications helps in growing different crops throughout the year and exporting them, “Cantaloupe can be grown until the Christmas season, a situation that is not available in many regions of the world.
He explained that the conditions of global agricultural production, and in surrounding countries, create great opportunities for exporting agricultural products, but producers must focus on the availability of the quality element to penetrate these markets easily.