41
reduced productivity of the cultivated crops obtained by some farmers in both the
old and new lands is due to their wrong on-field practices. The typical farmer practices in the old lands includes mono cropping in both growing seasons, low land
leveling, furrow cultivation, and application of large amount of irrigation water as a
result of using fixed time interval, regardless of crop needs. As a result, fertilizer
leaching occurred, as well as loss in soil fertility. Whereas, in the new lands, mono
cropping is also practice by the farmers. Although sprinkler or drip systems are
used, the farmer depended on his experience to decide the appropriate amount of
irrigation water to apply in each irrigation event. The farmer applies irrigation water
every 3 days for summer crops and every 4 days for winter crop. Fertilizer is broadcasted on the ground before irrigation, which leads to fertilizer leaching, as a result
of applying large amount of irrigation water.
3.7.1 Wheat Production-Consumption Gap
Wheat is very important crop in Egypt, where its production does not fulfil its consumption, which generates a need to increase its production. Egypt was used to be
self-sufficient in almost all basic food commodities in the 1960s, with the exception
of wheat. Wheat self-sufficiency ratio (domestic production in relation to consumption) was 70% during that time. Between the 1970s and the 1980s, the selfsufficiency ratio declined dramatically for most products, where it was an indication
of serious food gaps in Egypt (Metz 1990). Under the current situation of water
deficiency, it is crucial to develop improved management package to increase its
national production.
Ouda and Zohry (2017) thoroughly assessed solutions to the wheat productionconsumption gap using data published in 2014. The study divided Egypt into three
regions, Lower, Middle and Upper Egypt (Fig. 3.5).
From their study, Table 3.6 showed that under traditional cultivation of wheat in
Lower Egypt had the highest percentage of wheat production, and population consumption. Whereas, Middle Egypt had the lowest percentage of wheat production
and Upper Egypt had the lowest percentage of population consumption.
Self- sufficiency ratio (total production divided by total consumption) was the highest in Upper Egypt and the lowest in Middle Egypt. Under these conditions, the
average wheat self-sufficiency ratio was 51%.
The study also revealed that using improved production package in the old lands
to increase wheat total production and could contribute in saving part of the applied
irrigation water and use it to cultivate new areas in the new lands. The suggested
improved production package included hanging traditional cultivation to raised
beds and implementing intercropping systems for wheat, where wheat plants share
the cultivated area and the applied irrigation water with other crops, namely with
tomato (Abd El-Zaher et al. 2013; Fig. 3.6a). Cotton relayed on wheat system
(Lamlom et al. 2018; Fig. 3.6b) was also suggested. Other wheat intercropping systems were suggested, i.e. wheat intercropped with sugar beet system (Abou-Elela
3 Egypt Faces Water Deficiency, and Food Insufficiency
reduced productivity of the cultivated crops obtained by some farmers in both the
old and new lands is due to their wrong on-field practices. The typical farmer practices in the old lands includes mono cropping in both growing seasons, low land
leveling, furrow cultivation, and application of large amount of irrigation water as a
result of using fixed time interval, regardless of crop needs. As a result, fertilizer
leaching occurred, as well as loss in soil fertility. Whereas, in the new lands, mono
cropping is also practice by the farmers. Although sprinkler or drip systems are
used, the farmer depended on his experience to decide the appropriate amount of
irrigation water to apply in each irrigation event. The farmer applies irrigation water
every 3 days for summer crops and every 4 days for winter crop. Fertilizer is broadcasted on the ground before irrigation, which leads to fertilizer leaching, as a result
of applying large amount of irrigation water.
3.7.1 Wheat Production-Consumption Gap
Wheat is very important crop in Egypt, where its production does not fulfil its consumption, which generates a need to increase its production. Egypt was used to be
self-sufficient in almost all basic food commodities in the 1960s, with the exception
of wheat. Wheat self-sufficiency ratio (domestic production in relation to consumption) was 70% during that time. Between the 1970s and the 1980s, the selfsufficiency ratio declined dramatically for most products, where it was an indication
of serious food gaps in Egypt (Metz 1990). Under the current situation of water
deficiency, it is crucial to develop improved management package to increase its
national production.
Ouda and Zohry (2017) thoroughly assessed solutions to the wheat productionconsumption gap using data published in 2014. The study divided Egypt into three
regions, Lower, Middle and Upper Egypt (Fig. 3.5).
From their study, Table 3.6 showed that under traditional cultivation of wheat in
Lower Egypt had the highest percentage of wheat production, and population consumption. Whereas, Middle Egypt had the lowest percentage of wheat production
and Upper Egypt had the lowest percentage of population consumption.
Self- sufficiency ratio (total production divided by total consumption) was the highest in Upper Egypt and the lowest in Middle Egypt. Under these conditions, the
average wheat self-sufficiency ratio was 51%.
The study also revealed that using improved production package in the old lands
to increase wheat total production and could contribute in saving part of the applied
irrigation water and use it to cultivate new areas in the new lands. The suggested
improved production package included hanging traditional cultivation to raised
beds and implementing intercropping systems for wheat, where wheat plants share
the cultivated area and the applied irrigation water with other crops, namely with
tomato (Abd El-Zaher et al. 2013; Fig. 3.6a). Cotton relayed on wheat system
(Lamlom et al. 2018; Fig. 3.6b) was also suggested. Other wheat intercropping systems were suggested, i.e. wheat intercropped with sugar beet system (Abou-Elela
3 Egypt Faces Water Deficiency, and Food Insufficiency