The Economic Role of the Agricultural Extension Sector in Reducing the Sugar Gap in Egypt

Soultan, Mohamed A.; W. El Warraqy, Sherin

doi:10.21608/asejaiqjsae.2024.394876

The Economic Role of the Agricultural Extension Sector in Reducing the Sugar Gap in Egypt

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Agricultural Economics - Faculty of Agriculture - Alexandria University - Egypt

² Institute of International Transport and Logistics - Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport.

10.21608/asejaiqjsae.2024.394876

Abstract

Although sugar is one of Egypt's key strategic commodities, local production remains insufficient to meet consumption needs, resulting in a sugar deficit that is covered through imports. This study sheds light on the nature of sugar production in Egypt. The findings reveal that the country currently relies heavily on sugar beet as the primary crop for sugar production. However, sugar beet yields in Egypt are below global averages, unlike sugarcane, for which Egypt records the highest yields worldwide. This prompted the research to investigate the reasons behind the low productivity of sugar beet, which were found to be related to the crop's preference for colder climates. Increasing sugar beet productivity is thus seen as the key to bridging the sugar gap. The study also emphasizes the role of agricultural extension services by analyzing their structure and the support they provide to sugar crop farmers, particularly those cultivating sugar beet in promising regions like Alexandria Governorate. By focusing on the 2021/2022 harvest season, the research assesses the role of the agricultural extension sector in reducing the sugar gap through the services offered to farmers. A comparison between extension-supported fields and other (control) fields indicates that reliance on agricultural extension services increases agricultural productivity by 13–15% per feddan.

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