General Information
· Main climates: Sub-tropical Desert and Arid
· Total land area: 99 545 000 ha
· Internal renewable water resources: 1.8 km3
· Incoming water flow: 66.7 km3
· GNP per capita, 1998: PPP$ 3 146
· Main food consumed: Wheat, Maize, Sugar & honey, Oil & fat, Rice
· Rice supply, 1999: 60.9 kg paddy/capita/year
Basic Statistics
|
1985 |
1990 |
1995 |
2000 |
RICE |
|
|
|
|
Harvested area (T ha) |
388.6 |
435.9 |
588.5 |
660.0 |
Yield (kg/ha) |
5947 |
7266 |
8135 |
9086 |
Production (T t) |
2311 |
3167 |
4788 |
5996 |
Imports (t) |
16 |
2443 |
795 |
NA |
Exports (T t) |
16.35 |
75.71 |
156.7 |
NA |
OTHERS |
|
|
|
|
Population (M) |
49.74 |
56.33 |
62.28 |
NA |
Agr population (M) |
25.66 |
24.70 |
24.95 |
NA |
Irrigated agr area (T ha) |
2497 |
2648 |
3283 |
NA |
Fertilizer cons (T t) |
863.5 |
964.8 |
1113 |
NA |
Agr tractors in use (T units) |
51.85 |
57.00 |
89.08 |
NA |
Producing Zones and Cropping Seasons
Almost all rice in Egypt is produced in the valley of Lower Nile River. The main rice producing zones are shown in the following table.
Production zone |
Harvested area (% total harvested area) |
Damieta |
30.64 |
El Dakahlia |
23.15 |
Kafr el Sheikh |
15.58 |
El Sharkia |
12.26 |
El Behaira |
10.69 |
El Gharbia |
7.69 |
Rice cultivated grown once a year.
Cropping season |
Planting |
Harvesting |
Main season |
4-5 |
9-11 |
Production Practices
Rice is planted under irrigated conditions. About 25 to 30 percent of the rice lands are affected by different degree of salinity. Land preparation is done mechanically or with animal traction. Transplanting is more popular method of crop establishment. Rice crops are applied with moderate to high rate of inorganic fertilizers. Weeds are controlled with combinations of manual weeding and herbicides. The seed production activities are still carried out mainly by State seed farms, but other services supporting rice production such as land preparation, input distribution, harvest and post harvest operations have been transferred to private sector and farmers associations. Most of the rice varieties released for cultivation belong to japonica sub-species of O. sativa.
Variety Name |
Released period |
Growth duration (days) |
GIZA 171 |
|
150-160 |
GIZA 172 |
|
140-150 |
GIZA 175 |
1985-89 |
140-150 |
GIZA 176 |
1985-89 |
140-150 |
GIZA 177 |
1995-99 |
110 |
GIZA 178 |
1995-99 |
140-150 |
GIZA 181 or IR 1626-203 |
1995-99 |
140-150 |
IR 28 |
|
140 |
SAKHA 101 |
1995-99 |
130-140 |
SAKHA 102 |
1995-99 |
120-130 |
GIZA 171 |
NA |
150-160 |
GIZA 172 |
NA |
140-150 |
GIZA 175 |
1985-89 |
140-150 |
GIZA 176 |
1985-89 |
140-150 |
GIZA 177 |
1995-99 |
110 |
GIZA 178 |
1995-99 |
140-150 |
GIZA 181 |
1995-99 |
140-150 |
IR 28 |
NA |
140 |
SAKHA 101 |
1995-99 |
130-140 |
SAKHA 102 |
1995-99 |
120-130 |
The following table shows the rice responses to fertilizer application.
Other information |
Test range (kg/ha) |
Control rate (kg/ha) |
Control yield (t/ha) |
Rate at Maximum yield (kg/ha) |
Maximum yield (t/ha) |
Nitrogen (N) |
|
|
|
|
|
Reported in 96, Saline soil, variety Giza 176 |
0-144 |
0 |
3.1 |
48 |
4.6 |
Reported in 96, Normal soil, variety Giza 171 |
0-150 |
0 |
5.2 |
150 |
8.2 |
Reported in 96, Normal soil, variety Giza 176 |
0-150 |
0 |
5.4 |
150 |
9.3 |
Reported in 96, Normal soil, variety Giza 181 |
0-150 |
0 |
5.5 |
150 |
9.5 |
Reported in 96, Normal soil, variety GZ 4120 |
0-150 |
0 |
5.1 |
150 |
8.9 |
Reported in 96, Normal soil after a legume crop, variety Giza 171 |
0-200 |
0 |
8 |
100 |
9.9 |
Reported in 96, Normal soil after a legume crop, variety Giza 175 |
0-200 |
0 |
8.4 |
100 |
11.4 |
Reported in 96, Normal soil after a legume crop, variety Giza 176 |
0-200 |
0 |
8.5 |
100 |
11.1 |
Reported in 96, Normal soil after a legume crop, variety Giza 181 |
0-200 |
0 |
8.8 |
100 |
11.3 |
Reported in 96, Normal soil after a legume crop, variety GZ 4120 |
0-200 |
0 |
7.4 |
150 |
10 |
Reported in 57, varietal Group II |
47.6-124.8 |
47.6 |
6.7 |
124.8 |
7.1 |
Reported in 57, varietal Group I |
47.6-124.8 |
47.6 |
7.8 |
124.8 |
8.4 |
Constraints and Issues of Sustainable Production
There are several constraints to sustainable rice production in Egypt. Following are the majors:
Shortage of water
Salinity
Pests and diseases (blast)
Yield potentials of current varieties have reached a plateau
The following table shows the rice production costs.
Other information |
Yield (t/ha) |
Cost ($/ha) |
Cost ($/t) |
87-89 |
5.28 |
261 |
49 |
Research and Development Institutes
· Central Administration for Seed, P.O. Box 12619, Giza, Phone: 720981 Telex: 23668 RRTC UN Fax: (20-2) 573-4516
· Rice Research and Development Program, Agricultural Research Center, Giza 12619, Egypt; Tel 736570; Telex 20332 FCRI-UN; Fax 620970
· Rice Research and Training Center, Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt; Fax 047 225099.
· Agricultural Research Centre, Field Crops Research Institute, Ministry of Agricult. 9, Gamma Street, Giza, Dokki, Cairo, Phone: 723000 Telex: 20332 FCRI UN