Economic transformations in the Egyptian countryside during the period from 2008-202

The study primarily aims to identify the major economic and social transformations in the Egyptian countryside over the past fifteen years. The problem addressed in the study is the scarcity of economic resources in rural communities, which hinders the process of economic and social transformation. Societies that lack mineral and natural resources do not experience significant economic transformations. Therefore, developing communities cannot meet the needs of their individuals due to a decrease in capital accumulation and investment rates. Previous studies have indicated that there have been changes in rural areas that have impacted the national income. Thus, it was necessary to study these economic changes, which led to the formulation of the following research question: What are the major economic transformations in rural areas?
The study relied on primary data, which involved designing a questionnaire that included a set of questions aligned with the study's objectives and aimed to test their validity in fulfilling this purpose. Three centers with varying levels of development were selected to represent different patterns of rural communities in the governorate: Fayoum, Itsa, and Youssef El-Siddik. A systematic random sample was chosen, and the optimal sample size was estimated using the Krejci and Morgan equation, representing 5% of the total number of rural households in the three study villages. Accordingly, the study sample consisted of 208 rural households distributed as follows: 110 in El-Azab villages (Fayoum center), 60 in Qalhana village (Itsa center), and 38 in Qasr Abu Lataye Al-Basal village (Youssef El-Siddik center).
The study reached several results, including a clear surge in consumption values, albeit values foreign to the village, surpassing the original economic values. Monthly spending on food items, communication services, electricity consumption, luxury goods, and entertainment increased. Moreover, there was an increase in agricultural income and per-acre profitability, as well as the availability of production requirements and agricultural tools. The study also observed an increased reliance on the market to fulfill food needs, leading to a decrease in self-sufficiency in food and animal products. The quantities of fish produced decreased, and self-sufficiency in poultry and birds decreased. Furthermore, the relative importance of non-agricultural income sources within rural household incomes increased.
The nature of agricultural work shifted from collective to individual, deviating from the traditional work structure in rural households. Unemployment in villages increased, accompanied by a rise in the availability of agricultural labor and a tendency among rural residents to engage in non-agricultural activities. This led to an increase in work in crafts, construction, and trade, as well as individuals seeking employment abroad in oil-rich countries. Internal migration to major cities for work also increased.