Food production in Egypt lags behind consumption

Food production in Egypt lags behind consumption

Faced with a skyrocketing population, water scarcity, and rising ambient temperatures, Egypt’s agricultural production is not keeping pace with the country’s domestic needs.

June 28, 2010 8:22 by kippreport

Egypt’s agricultural sector is facing shortages in “strategic crops” like wheat, maize, and oil producing plants, as local consumption outpaces domestic production at an increasing rate.

Agricultural officials are investigating the development of crop strains that yield more per unit, but say their efforts are hampered by water scarcity and rising environmental temperatures. Egypt’s farming sector is responsible for an estimated 80 percent of the country’s water consumption.

Irrigation water levels have declined notably, farmers say, and the country is classified as below the “per capita water poverty line.” Pricey imports have made up the difference, putting a financial burden on the state.

Source: AlJazeera