- Name:Towards Climate-Smart Agriculture in Egypt
- Date:2020 - 2022
- Tag:Climate Resilience
Towards Climate-Smart Agriculture in Egypt (2020-2022)
Methods:
The research employed a mixed-methods approach, combining literature review, policy analysis, and case studies of selected CSA practices in Egypt. The study examined the contribution of these practices to the three pillars of CSA: increased productivity, enhanced resilience, and reduced/removed greenhouse gas emissions. It also investigated the roles of various stakeholders, including the public sector, private sector, civil society organizations, women, and youth, in scaling up CSA.
Adaptation Practices: Adapting to climate change requires adjustments in agricultural practices to cope with its effects. Developing and utilizing drought-resistant crop varieties is crucial for maintaining yields in increasingly arid conditions. Implementing modern irrigation techniques, such as drip irrigation, improves water use efficiency and reduces pressure on scarce water resources, enhancing resilience to drought. Protected agriculture, through the use of greenhouses, shields crops from extreme weather events and optimizes growing conditions for improved productivity. Water harvesting techniques provide valuable supplementary water sources during dry periods, contributing to overall water security. Finally, improved water management practices, including strengthening water users’ associations and lining irrigation canals, minimize water loss and enhance distribution efficiency.
Mitigation Practices: Mitigating climate change involves reducing greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural activities. Bio-fertilization, using symbiotic Rhizobium bacteria, reduces reliance on synthetic nitrogen fertilizers, a major source of nitrous oxide emissions. Composting agricultural wastes and residues minimizes methane emissions from decomposing organic matter while also creating a valuable soil amendment. Converting livestock waste into biogas through anaerobic digestion captures methane emissions and transforms them into a renewable energy source. Furthermore, transitioning to solar pumping irrigation systems reduces dependence on fossil fuels, thereby lowering carbon emissions and promoting sustainable energy use in agriculture.
Partners: This study was a collaborative effort between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE), and Suez Canal University.
Main Results: The report identified key climate change impacts on Egyptian agriculture, including water scarcity, increased temperatures, and salinity. It showcased a range of CSA practices, categorized by their contribution to mitigation and adaptation:
Recommendations: The report offered several key recommendations for scaling up CSA in Egypt, including strengthening policy and institutional frameworks to support CSA adoption through incentives, regulations, and investment strategies. Investing in research and development is crucial for developing climate-resilient crop varieties, efficient irrigation technologies, and other context-specific CSA practices. Enhancing capacity building through training and technical assistance empowers farmers to adopt CSA practices and manage climate risks effectively. Promoting private sector engagement is essential for driving investment in CSA technologies and market development. Empowering women and youth recognizes their crucial role in CSA adoption and innovation. Strengthening monitoring and evaluation systems allows for tracking progress, ensuring effectiveness, and informing future strategies. Improving access to finance enables farmers to invest in CSA practices. Finally, raising awareness and promoting knowledge sharing disseminates information on the benefits of CSA and best practices through various channels.
Link to Study:
https://doi.org/10.4060/cc2917en
FAO
CEDARE
