Unveiling Solutions: Overcoming Socio-Economic Challenges from Agricultural Land Fragmentation in Egypt
Jacinthe Ibrahim Rihan*
Professor of Rural Sociology and Sustainable Development, Department of Rural Sociology & Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
*Corresponding Author: Jacinthe Ibrahim Rihan, Professor of Rural Sociology and Sustainable Development, Department of Rural Sociology & Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Published: November 06, 2024
Abstract
Agriculture land in Egypt is paramount to the nation's economy, food security, and social fabric. Egypt's rich history of agriculture, dating back to ancient civilizations along the Nile, has shaped the country's identity and sustenance for millennia. Agriculture has been the lifeblood of Egypt for thousands of years, with the fertile Nile Delta and Nile Valley serving as the cradle of Egyptian civilization. The annual inundation of the Nile River, combined with innovative irrigation techniques developed over centuries, has allowed Egypt to sustain a thriving agricultural sector. Today, agricultural land in Egypt remains a cornerstone of the nation's economy, providing food, raw materials, and employment for millions. Small land holdings play a pivotal role in Egypt's agricultural landscape. These holdings are typically characterized by limited acreage, often less than two hectares, and are predominantly managed by individual families. Small-scale family farms form the backbone of Egypt's agricultural sector, contributing significantly to crop production, livestock rearing, and the livelihoods of rural communities (Muhammad,2018). Fragmented land indicates that it is divided among many legal heirs as it passes from one generation to another. Moreover, non-conducive government policies also lead to such fragmentation. It severely affects agriculture as the mechanization cannot be carried out on small fragmented land.
Due to this numerous adverse challenges are to be expected besides the direct loss of agricultural land due to urban settlement expansion and road network construction. Such effects are caused mainly due to the mechanisms of fragmentation; and division of large patches of agricultural land into smaller and smaller patches. This leads to Smaller land patches, which means higher agrarian costs and the inability to use new agricultural techniques that favor larger patches, added to the increased water requirements, loss of biodiversity, soil erosion, and fertilizer leaching Plus the emissions from the urban settlements and the continuous traffic on the road networks, which lead to contamination of the soil and plants surrounding them (Mahmoud, 2014).
In Egypt, small land holdings are integral to achieving food security and economic stability. They facilitate diversified crop cultivation, promote local agricultural production, and empower individuals to contribute to the nation's self-sufficiency in staple crops such as wheat, rice, and vegetables. Lastly, these small-scale farms provide a safety net for millions of Egyptians, offering a source of income and subsistence.
Finally, this paper discussed the challenges of Egyptian land fragmentation and proposed several solutions to mitigate the socio-economic impacts in rural communities.
Keywords: Egypt; Fragmentation; Agricultural land holding; Socio-economic challenges
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