The Contribution of Agronomic Management to Sustainably Intensify Egypt’s Wheat Production

Abstract

In Egypt, recent shortfalls in the wheat supply from Russia and Ukraine have necessitated substantial increases in domestic production. As agricultural practices influence the yield of bread wheat, we assessed current production strategies in the wheat-based systems of Egypt and investigated their effects on wheat productivity in four study areas in the Nile Delta. We used a multi-stage random sampling technique to select 246 wheat-producing farmers and applied structured questionnaires to assess farming practices and crop performance attributes. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, analysis of variances, and multiple regression models. Wheat farmers were on average 56 years old with about 30 years of farming experience. Land holdings were rather small, with an average of 1.05 hectares and a mean wheat yield of 6.4 metric tons (t)/hectare (ha). Farmers devote <20% of their cropland area to wheat. Of the large observed variation in wheat yield (4.2–8.5 t/ha), 59% was explained by differences in applied cropping practices in the multiple regression model. The application of mineral fertilizers was mostly inappropriate and unbalanced, with an overuse of nitrogen and phosphorus, the complete absence of potassium and micronutrient fertilizers, and insufficient rates of applied organic amendments. The type of the preceding summer crop and the irrigation frequency were found to be the most influencing factors, explaining 7.5% and 38% of the variation in wheat yields. The majority of farmers with low wheat yields irrigated their crops twice per season, while only 7% of high-yielding farmers applied the recommended irrigation frequency of >5 times per season. Most farmers had poor knowledge of modern agronomic practices and inadequate access to information. To enhance domestic production in Egypt, there is a need for fiscal incentives, permitting or stimulating wheat-producing farmers to devote larger shares of their cropland to wheat cultivation. In addition, policies must enable wheat producers to improve their productivity by implementing adequate and sustainable agricultural practices such as crop rotations, balanced mineral nutrient supply, and the use of organic amendments. However, the most important factors are interventions and technologies that improve provision and increase the use efficiency of irrigation water.