Facing Climate Change: Urban Gardening and Sustainable …
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achieved Nearly half of Egypt crops, including wheat, rice, oranges and bananas, are
cultivated in the Delta. Contrariwise the rest of Nile Delta areas (not under water)
would also be affected, with salt water from the Mediterranean Sea which will pollute
the fresh underground water used for irrigation. Also, agriculture activities and the
self-sufficiency of food will expose to an additional effect as a result of temperature
increase.
The decline in agriculture activities due to temperature increases is expected to
range from 10 to 60% (production of main crops will be 18% for wheat, 11% for rice
and 19% for maize). Such losses, if it is not planned and financed, will increase the
risk of malnutrition and hunger among the population [5]. The increase in temperature
will be associated with some changes in the ecological system and increase in air
pollution as a result of emissions, soil erosion, and wind speed.
The new climate situation would increase the amount of Saharan dust carried
across the country causing health troubles and economic problems. In all these
dimensions’ agriculture plays a crucial role.
Agriculture is threatened by climate change, responsible for food supply and
employs about 30% of Egypt’s labor force. Thus, a new criterion, “sustainable
agriculture”, is needed which addresses all these issues simultaneously! “Sustainable Agriculture” and climate change adaptation potential adaptation by adopting
cropping patterns:
(a) Salt resistant crops (where sea level rise in agricultural areas)—jojoba, quinoa,
sugar beets, row barley, safflower, sunflower, winter wheat, spring wheat, canola,
and corn
(b) Less water-intensive crops. Farming practices such as using seed varieties that
require less water and mature in less time should be widely promoted in waterdeficient regions of India to help farmers reduce their vulnerability to climate
change. vegetables such as cluster beans, watermelon, gourds and cucurbits
(c) Heat resistant crops (millet and sorghum, multipurpose grain legumes (cowpea,
chickpea), barley, maize)
(d) Adaptation by adopting crop characteristics
(e) It is expected by 2050 that climate change will raise water demand by an average
of 5% [6].
(f) Adapting soils, reducing the sources of greenhouse gases
Climate change is probable to have adverse effects on human wellbeing in Egypt,
which is able be aggravated by high population densities. These may incorporate
increments within the predominance and seriousness of asthma, and infectious diseases, vector-borne diseases, eye cataracts, heat strokes and skin cancer. Additional
deaths from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, dysenteric infection and diarrhea are expected. Children mortality frequency and malnutrition cases are expected
to be further frequent. Climate change will harm Egypt’s tourism sector through sea
level rises. The Nile Delta is home of many of Egypt’s tourism, and for cities like
Alexandria and Matruh City, the threat of a rising sea level will reduce both their
capability to sustain tourism as well as the desire of tourists to visit them. 49% of
Alexandria’s tourism industry would be underwater if sea level rose 0.5 m [7].
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