Rice Production in Egypt: The Challenges of Climate Change …
307
easily vulnerable to sea level rise. For instance, several studies found that Nile Delta
and some other deltas are facing constant inundation and saline intrusion because of
exposure to the sea [42]. He added that the predicted sea level rise due to climate
change would submerge a lot of low-lying lands worldwide by 2050, and salinity
intrusion will be more severe. It is also emphasized on that the worldwide low-lying
areas; the main alluvial coastal plain; is accounted as one of the most vulnerable
areas by sea level rise. They highlighted the Nile Delta, Egypt, in the Mediterranean
area and mentioned that currently, about 10% of the global population already live
in low-lying coastal regions, between 0 and 10 m above sea level. They also reported
that the sea level rise associated with global warming is also intensified by local
factors, such as the subsidence, due to both natural and anthropogenic causes [41].
It is found in the study of [43] on the impact of sea level rice on Nile Delta, Egypt
that that mean sea level is projected (based on IPCC scenarios which generate by
MAGICC/SCENGEN program) to rise by 14.0 to 18.9 cm between 1990 and 2100,
for the full range of all scenarios. The range between the best case A1 (low) and the
worst case B1(low) is 4.8 cm. This will affect the developmental activities in these
areas due to heavy population and high productivity of the best fertile areas in Egypt.
The results of all scenarios show that A1+ land subsidence was the highest case,
ranged between (48.2 and 48.9 cm), while B1+ land subsidence was the lowest case
(44.0–44.1 cm) till the year 2100. Therefore, in this context, the impact of climate
change on agriculture productivity, water shortage and shifting growing seasons can’t
be neglected in the Nile Delta. This is because the area is vulnerable to negative
impacts of climate change such as loosing, salinization of considerable areas of
cultivated lands (because of rising sea level) and rapid decomposition of OM as
result of increasing temperature. It is expected also in the study of [44] that relative
sea level rise in the high scenario increases the amount of land risk from inundation
in the northern Nile Delta by 300 km
2 , or more than one-fifth of the total agricultural
land in the northeast Nile Delta only. As well they added; all crops are projected to
have a decrease in yields and an increase in irrigation needs. All these will lead to
a decline in C and N in agricultural soil. Thus; under such previous stresses on C
and N in North Nile Delta Egypt as a result of climate change and water shortage
due to establishing GERD, the actions should be taking towards either mitigation or
adaptation of this stresses.
7 The Impact of Water Deficiency on Rice Production
in Egypt
Egypt covers an area of about 1.0 million km
2 [45]. The Nile valley plus Delta
region cover about 4% of this area [46]. Agriculture is practiced over an area of
approximately 3.5 million ha, involving recently reclaimed lands. As a highly populated country with a population of approximately up to 90 million, Egypt is an
agriculturally based country. Agriculture remains a major sector and a very lifelike
307
easily vulnerable to sea level rise. For instance, several studies found that Nile Delta
and some other deltas are facing constant inundation and saline intrusion because of
exposure to the sea [42]. He added that the predicted sea level rise due to climate
change would submerge a lot of low-lying lands worldwide by 2050, and salinity
intrusion will be more severe. It is also emphasized on that the worldwide low-lying
areas; the main alluvial coastal plain; is accounted as one of the most vulnerable
areas by sea level rise. They highlighted the Nile Delta, Egypt, in the Mediterranean
area and mentioned that currently, about 10% of the global population already live
in low-lying coastal regions, between 0 and 10 m above sea level. They also reported
that the sea level rise associated with global warming is also intensified by local
factors, such as the subsidence, due to both natural and anthropogenic causes [41].
It is found in the study of [43] on the impact of sea level rice on Nile Delta, Egypt
that that mean sea level is projected (based on IPCC scenarios which generate by
MAGICC/SCENGEN program) to rise by 14.0 to 18.9 cm between 1990 and 2100,
for the full range of all scenarios. The range between the best case A1 (low) and the
worst case B1(low) is 4.8 cm. This will affect the developmental activities in these
areas due to heavy population and high productivity of the best fertile areas in Egypt.
The results of all scenarios show that A1+ land subsidence was the highest case,
ranged between (48.2 and 48.9 cm), while B1+ land subsidence was the lowest case
(44.0–44.1 cm) till the year 2100. Therefore, in this context, the impact of climate
change on agriculture productivity, water shortage and shifting growing seasons can’t
be neglected in the Nile Delta. This is because the area is vulnerable to negative
impacts of climate change such as loosing, salinization of considerable areas of
cultivated lands (because of rising sea level) and rapid decomposition of OM as
result of increasing temperature. It is expected also in the study of [44] that relative
sea level rise in the high scenario increases the amount of land risk from inundation
in the northern Nile Delta by 300 km
2 , or more than one-fifth of the total agricultural
land in the northeast Nile Delta only. As well they added; all crops are projected to
have a decrease in yields and an increase in irrigation needs. All these will lead to
a decline in C and N in agricultural soil. Thus; under such previous stresses on C
and N in North Nile Delta Egypt as a result of climate change and water shortage
due to establishing GERD, the actions should be taking towards either mitigation or
adaptation of this stresses.
7 The Impact of Water Deficiency on Rice Production
in Egypt
Egypt covers an area of about 1.0 million km
2 [45]. The Nile valley plus Delta
region cover about 4% of this area [46]. Agriculture is practiced over an area of
approximately 3.5 million ha, involving recently reclaimed lands. As a highly populated country with a population of approximately up to 90 million, Egypt is an
agriculturally based country. Agriculture remains a major sector and a very lifelike