Organic methods to save Egyptian agriculture

As soil fertility and yield are continually decreasing in Egypt, the burden of subsidies rises for the Egyptian government. It heavily promotes the expansion of agricultural land into the desert to decrease the socio-economic instability.

Organic farming has proven a good alternative for Egyptian farmers, as it does not harm the sensitive environment as much as conventional agriculture. But because it is associated with higher costs, organic farming has not yet found a broader application.

As Sekem reports, a study has now compared the costs of organic and conventional farming in Egypt. Using so-called “Full Cost Accounting”, the research confirmed, that the input costs for organic farming are slightly higher than for conventional agriculture. But the damages to the environment are significantly lower, what decreases costs in this segment. Also, the study affirms a long-term profitability for the whole Egyptian society, that could derive from an increase in organic agriculture.