ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS FOR THE EFFICIENCY OF UING WATER RESOURCES IN RICE PRODUCTION AT AL-GHARBIAH GOVERNORATE.

Moussa, Shahinaz Eid Mahmoud

doi:10.21608/fjard.2012.194686

ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS FOR THE EFFICIENCY OF UING WATER RESOURCES IN RICE PRODUCTION AT AL-GHARBIAH GOVERNORATE.

Document Type : Research articles.

Author

Shahinaz Eid Mahmoud Moussa

Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University

10.21608/fjard.2012.194686

Abstract

This study aims to determine the amount of usage for irrigation water in the
production of Rice crop in Al-Gharbiah governorate. To reveal whether it had
reached or exceeded the level of efficiency, and the consequences for this on the economic results that may be generalized on the national scale. Al-Gharbiah
governorate has been selected since it is one of the most important governorates of
Rice production. In addition, it mediates the “Delta”, which is the main Rice
producer in Egypt. As a result, different methods of Rice production in the whole
region would be similar; accordingly usage of irrigation water would almost be the
same.
The study concluded that the production elasticity of irrigation water across
the sample under study is negative, hence reduction of irrigation water usage by
1%, leads to an increase in productivity by 0.162 Tons of Rice. Therefore, a
reduction of irrigation water usage from 12,000 m3 to the designated range of
8,800 m3- 10,920 m3 of water would save 9%-26.67% of the average water
currently used for this crop. Consequently, this would lead to: increase in average
Feddan productivity, Feddan returns, total production of Rice at the governorate
level and the whole country accordingly an increase in its monetary value, Increase
in exports, achieving optimal production capacity of the Rice mills and their value
added, partially reducing unemployment. Finally, most important of all; is to save
around 447.186-150.92 Million m3 of irrigation water in Al-Gharbiah, which may
be utilized in other areas of the same governorate or could be redirected to the rest
of “Delta” governorates that suffer water scarcity.
In light the above, the study recommends the following:
1- The importance of rationalization for irrigation water used for Rice crop < br />production. This should be an important concern for agricultural and
irrigation policy makers in Egypt.
2- Supporting research for finding the species with least production period
and water requirement.
3- Expanding and subsidizing the new irrigation methods, even if the
government had to bare portion of its setup costs.
4- Preparation for increasing water distillation regardless of their costs.
5- Spreading awareness between population for the importance of water
saving.
6- Do like this study in other governorates which are producing Rice crop.