Agronutrients, agricultural biostimulants, soil improvers, ecological fertilizers, microorganisms for the soil, … They are JISA specialties of great value for the horticultural fabric of Egypt, a country that finds agriculture one of its main assets in its national and international trade balance.
Egypt is a predominantly agricultural country, where more than 30% of the workforce is linked to agriculture or livestock.
On its sandy soil, except in the areas of the Nile delta, which is somewhat more clayey, extensive crops of cotton, corn, millet, barley, sugar cane, wheat, cereals and forage crops are grown.
Other important crops are its large areas of rice, citrus fruits (oranges, tangerines and lemons), potatoes and grapes. As for vegetables such as green beans, onions, watermelons, artichokes, tomatoes, strawberries, etc. and fruit trees such as pomegranates, mangoes, dates, figs, spices, … They make up the star fruit and vegetable panorama of this country.
Egypt’s agricultural exports.
According to recent data provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation of this country, Egypt’s agricultural exports have risen, for the first time in its history, to almost 6.5 million tons, equivalent to about 3.3 billion dollars. This figure represents an increase of about 800,000 tons compared to the previous campaign, highlighting that citrus fruits occupied first place, followed by potatoes, onions and beans.
In this context, the size of Egypt’s fruits and vegetables market is estimated at $15.64 billion by 2024, and is expected to reach $25.88 billion by 2029, growing at a CAGR, of 10.60% during the forecast period (2024-2029).
If we make a ranking of the 12 most notable agricultural crops that Egypt exports, the largest number of them, as we have advanced, were citrus fruits with 1.8 million tons, followed by potatoes with 871 thousand tons, onions 578, beans 192, pomegranates 156, grapes 154, mangoes 76, tomatoes 51 and strawberries with 40 thousand tons. Garlic also stands out, with a total amount of 31,972 tons, while guavas reached 15,595 and watermelon 9,289 tons.
Factors influencing Egyptian agriculture.
As in all countries, whether due to geological, climatic or political issues, there are factors that influence their agriculture. In the case of Egypt, there is the availability of water. Agriculture in Egypt relies heavily on irrigation, mainly on water from the Nile River. Its management is crucial due to the growth of arable land, as well as the increasing demand for water for other uses.
Climatic conditions is another of its factors. Its climate, with hot summers and mild winters, is favorable for a wide variety of crops; however, climate change is affecting rainfall patterns and, consequently, the availability of water.
Regarding government policies, they implement actions to improve the efficiency of water use, increase agricultural production and expand the cultivated area.
And of course, the advances in technology and more efficient agricultural practices, which are being implemented with the objectives of expanding crop areas (some lands recovered from the desert), so that these are high-yielding and more profitable for the farmer.
In this context and as we advanced, agronutritional products, biostimulants for plants, soil improvers, to counteract the salinity of the land, etc. They are technological contributions that, together with the advice provided by JISA’s commercial technical team, contribute to achieving success in the field of Egyptian agriculture.