Book Description

Egypt has one of the oldest and most productive agricultural systems in world, yet it has become one of the world's largest food importers. Today, as the Egyptian government undertakes a major agricultural reform program, the lessons of its past practices and current development need to be shared with the rest of the world. This text--written by Egyptian agricultural experts and other specialists--provides a comprehensive introduction and reference to Egypt's agricultural practices from their earliest origins through the 1990s. Topics range from the country's environmental history, to shifting population dynamics, to changing governmental and economic structures. Detailed descriptions of agricultural production and development in the northern Littoral region, the Delta, middle and upper Egypt, and the deserts are also provided. Written for agronomists, historians of the Middle East, and students and policy makers specializing in third-world development and agricultural systems, this work is an indispensable guide to the region's agricultural history and conventions.