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

Jeffrey Alwang, Samy Sabry, Kamel Shideed, Atef Swelam and Habib Halila
Additional contact information
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

Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, 2018, vol. 10, issue 3, No 8, 589-601

Abstract: 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.

Keywords: Wheat productivity; Food security; Research for development; Technical change; Benefits (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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DOI: 10.1007/s12571-018-0794-3

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