Agricultural Innovation Project II (AIP)

Context

Agriculture is a key economic sector in Egypt. In Upper Egypt, where more than half of the population lives below the poverty line, 55 per cent of jobs are in agriculture.

However, the agricultural industry in Egypt is not yet realising its full potential. Current challenges include the lack of market orientation and insufficient innovative capacity among smallholder farmers. Also impacting agricultural productivity are climate change, limited resources and population growth. By 2050, these factors could reduce yields by 10 to 40 per cent.

Objective

The introduction of green innovations has resulted in higher incomes for smallholder farmers and rural businesses in Upper Egypt.

Approach

The project aims to raise incomes in rural agricultural communities in Upper Egypt by:

1. Supporting smallholder farmers to become more resilient to climate change and more productive. This involves implementing environmentally friendly practices and innovative solutions for soil fertility and water management, as well as better plant varieties and regenerative cultivation methods.
2. Promoting agricultural businesses, supporting entrepreneurship and improving local services in rural communities through special support programmes.
3. Establishing partnerships with leading food and agricultural businesses to bridge gaps between smallholder farmers and the private sector. The project is utilising private sector expertise, technology and resources to improve market access.
4. Improving the organisational capacity of farmer organisations and fostering a new generation of leaders to facilitate innovation in public and private services. Modern digital solutions such as online market platforms, online advisory services and fintech are also being introduced to provide long-term support.

Last update: December 2023