Use of Peat in Egypt and Prospects for the Future

The agricultural sector currently accounts for 17% of gross domestic product and about 29% of total employment

The Egyptian government is generally positive regarding foreign investment and considers the expansion of private sector investment. The government is especially interested in foreign investment for projects relating to the reclamation and cultivation of desert lands for agriculture, industry, and projects which require modern technologies, increase exports, decrease imports or are labor intensive.

In Egypt farming is confined to less than 4% of the total land area because the country falls within arid and hyper-arid zones. About 90% of the agricultural area is concentrated in the Nile delta and the rest is located within a narrow ribbon along the Nile between Aswan and Cairo (Upper Egypt) and a strip along the Mediterranean.

Cultivated lands in the desert and along the coast increased by 63.3% from 1986 to 1996, due to reclamation of desert and coastal lands. As part of a national land reclamation project, the government started one of the world's largest planned agricultural developments in January 1997 (Toshka Canal project). This massive undertaking, aims to double the size of Egypt's arable land in fifteen years' time.

Government incentives for investment in Toshka-related areas include tax exemptions, customs exemptions, and low land prices. Economic and environmental impacts remain under study.

By 1960, Egypt was self-sufficient in almost all basic food commodities, with the exception of wheat and vegetable oil, of which they had a self-sufficiency ratio of 70%. However, this ratio declined dramatically for most products during the 1970's and 1980's and economists began to speak of a serious food gap in Egypt.

The drop in food self-sufficiency was attributed to the rising demand caused by high rates of population growth, the rapid rise of incomes and subsidized prices. On the supply side, the problem was the slow growth in agricultural yields. Cropping Patterns, Production and Yield

One of the most significant shifts in land use was the expansion of the horticultural area. Egyptian farmers cultivated a wide array of fruits and vegetables.

Total Cultivated Area in Million Feddan (Feddan=4200m 2 )

Area of Vegetable crops (1000 feddan)

Total production of vegetable crops (million Ton)

Area of Fruit crops (1000 feddan)

Total production of fruit crops (million Ton)

Cultivated area of Medicinal and Aromatic plants (1000 feddan)

Most vegetable growers in Egypt have a land holding which is smaller than two hectares. They are interested in any technology which helps them to produce more crops each year from their land, particularly during the off season when prices are higher. For this reason, greenhouses and plastic tunnels have become popular among Egyptian growers.

The first step towards achieving maximum crop production is the establishment of a healthy uniform stand of seedlings. By raising the seedlings in containers the grower has more control over the initial development of his crop. Direct seeded crops may be subjected to a number of hazards in the initial stages such as poor or uneven germination, inclement weather causing high soil temperature, or heavy storms washing seed away or damaging germinating seedlings.

However, if seedlings are used they should not be suffering from lack of nutrients or from pest and disease attacks. They must not have been stressed by drying out or by being left too long in the containers

Well grown container raised seedlings have a number of advantages over other methods of crop establishment such as: Fewer losses at transplanting. Plants are already quite advanced by the time the land is prepared leading to earlier harvesting.

Less transplant shock resulting in more uniform flowering compared with bare- root seedlings. Small seeds e.g. cabbage and tomato have a better chance of even germination. Better plant uniformity. Less time in the field, fewer risks, less irrigation, sprayings etc.

On the other hand, there are a number of disadvantages in raising seedlings in containers such as: a. Costs capital structures (shade houses etc.) potting mix materials. equipment (concrete mixer, irrigation, containers). labor.

b. Some crops such as crucifers, tomatoes, capsicum etc. are well suited to this system, while others such as carrots, onions, lettuce, pumpkins, watermelons, sweetcorn etc. are not. c. There will be some transplant shock, especially if the seedlings have not been hardened off properly before planting out

Numerous potting mixes have been used quite successfully for raising seedlings, all good potting mixes should have the following properties: Good water retention. Adequate aeration. Good nutrient holding capacity.

Freedom from pests and diseases, particularly damping off organisms. This may require sterilization of some materials but should not be necessary with peat and vermiculite. Permeability to allow the plant to form a solid mass of roots which can be easily pulled from the container with the root mass intact.

Homogeneous structure and available unchanged year after year. A material containing in itself the minimum of nutrients.

On the basis of the above- mentioned characteristics peat seemed to meet the requirements. Vise versa of Garden composts that vary in their constituents and also in their properties concerning plant production

With the beginning of the year 1998, the garden compost was partially replaced instead of the peat. The next graphs clearly illustrate the reduced imported peat.

The value ($) of peat (whether or not agglomerated) imported in Egypt during the last six years.

The quantity (Ton) of peat (whether or not agglomerated) imported during last six years.

The important sources and quantity (Ton) of peat imported during 1998.

The important sources and quantity (Ton) of peat imported during 1999.

The important sources and quantity (Ton) of peat imported during 2000.

The important sources and quantity (Ton) of peat imported during 2001.

The important sources and quantity (Ton) of peat imported during 2002.

The important sources and quantity (Ton) of peat imported during Jan.- November 2003.