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Economic and food security benefits associated with raised-bed wheat production in Egypt

Author

Listed:
  • Jeffrey Alwang

    (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University)

  • Samy Sabry

    (Agricultural Research Center)

  • Kamel Shideed

    (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas)

  • Atef Swelam

    (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas)

  • Habib Halila

    (International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas)

Abstract

Countries in the West Asia and North Africa (WANA) region are dependent on imports of wheat to meet their food security needs. Mechanized raised-bed wheat production is an effective means of increasing productivity and saving scarce water, but the technology needs substantial adaptation to local conditions. This paper estimates the economic benefits from a long-term adaptive research project designed to adapt and promote mechanical raised-bed wheat production in Egypt. The technology itself is associated with a 25% increase in productivity due to higher yields, 50% lower seed costs, a 25% reduction in water use, and lower labor costs. The mechanical raised-bed program is now a component of Egypt’s national wheat campaign and it is estimated that by 2023 approximately 800,000 ha of wheat will be planted with the technology. This paper estimates that over a 15 year project horizon, the benefits will exceed US$ 4 billion, with most of the benefits accruing to more than one million Egyptian wheat producers. Other benefits include reduced wheat imports (by more than 50% by 2025), reduced dependence on international commodity markets and increased productivity on more than 200,000 ha of water-starved lands.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeffrey Alwang & Samy Sabry & Kamel Shideed & Atef Swelam & Habib Halila, 2018. "Economic and food security benefits associated with raised-bed wheat production in Egypt," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 10(3), pages 589-601, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:ssefpa:v:10:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s12571-018-0794-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s12571-018-0794-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Yigezu, Yigezu A. & Abbas, Enas & Swelam, Atef & Sabry, Sami R.S. & Moustafa, Moustafa A. & Halila, Habib, 2021. "Socioeconomic, biophysical, and environmental impacts of raised beds in irrigated wheat: A case study from Egypt," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 249(C).
    2. Nie Changhong & Cui Mingming & Li Xiuting, 2020. "Grain Science and Technology Policies and Food Security in China: An Empirical Study Based on a Provincial Dynamic Panel Model," Journal of Systems Science and Information, De Gruyter, vol. 8(6), pages 504-523, December.
    3. Catharien Terwisscha van Scheltinga & Angel Miguel Garcia & Gert-Jan Wilbers & Hanneke Heesmans & Rutger Dankers & Eric Smaling, 2021. "Unravelling the interplay between water and food systems in arid and semi-arid environments: the case of Egypt," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(5), pages 1145-1161, October.
    4. Ahmed Abdalla & Mathias Becker & Till Stellmacher, 2023. "The Contribution of Agronomic Management to Sustainably Intensify Egypt’s Wheat Production," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-15, April.

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