Egypt Faces Urgent Need to Modernize Agriculture Law Amid Climate and Water Challenges
LUXOR, Egypt – Egypt is confronting a critical juncture in its agricultural sector, with officials and experts urging swift modernization of the nation’s decades-old Agriculture Law to address escalating challenges posed by climate change, water scarcity, and economic pressures. The call for reform comes as the country grapples with ensuring food security and bolstering the resilience of its agricultural communities, particularly in the vulnerable Upper Egypt region.
The existing Agriculture Law No. 53 of 1966, and subsequent amendments, are increasingly seen as inadequate to address the complexities of modern agricultural practices and the growing impacts of a changing climate. Mohamed El-Sebaei, former deputy head of the Senate’s Agriculture and Irrigation Committee, emphasized the urgency, stating that updating the law is “no longer optional but an urgent necessity.”
“Egypt faces a persistent legislative and economic gap in the agricultural sector,” El-Sebaei said during a recent workshop reviewing the law’s impact. “Coupled with the growing impacts of climate change and severe water scarcity, legislative reform is paramount.”
The Nile River, the lifeblood of Egypt, provides the vast majority of the country’s water resources. However, a fixed share of Nile water, coupled with increasing regional demand, is intensifying pressure on Egypt’s water supply. According to the World Bank, Egypt is already one of the most water-stressed countries in the world, with per capita water availability far below the global average of 1,000 cubic meters per year. This scarcity necessitates efficient water governance and a shift towards climate-resilient agricultural techniques.
Saad Moussa, deputy head of the Agricultural Research Center and supervisor of international agricultural relations at the Ministry of Agriculture, highlighted the structural challenges facing the sector, including limited arable land. “Legislative frameworks that enhance food security and resource efficiency are crucial,” Moussa stated.
Recommendations emerging from the workshops, organized by Inroot Development with funding from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, center around a multi-faceted approach. Key proposals include adopting an integrated, participatory approach involving all stakeholders – from farmers to researchers and the private sector – and embedding climate-smart agriculture concepts into the legal framework. Expanding the role of the private sector, accelerating digital transformation, and strengthening the link between scientific research and practical innovation were also identified as vital steps.
[Instagram Post – Example: A farmer in Upper Egypt demonstrating climate-smart irrigation techniques. Caption: “Innovative farming practices are key to Egypt’s agricultural future. #ClimateSmartAgriculture #Egypt #FoodSecurity”]
Inroot Development’s project, implemented in cooperation with several Egyptian universities, has already begun to deliver tangible results. Hany El‑Salamouni, the organization’s CEO, reported that nearly 1,000 farmers and 600 agriculture students have been trained in climate-smart farming practices and the application of artificial intelligence to improve productivity and adaptation.
Hanna Girgis, co-founder and chairman of Inroot Development, emphasized the evidence-based nature of the recommendations. “This session marked the culmination of a series of policy workshops that addressed real-world agricultural challenges and produced recommendations aimed at modernizing agricultural policy in line with climate realities,” he said.
Participants at the closing session unanimously agreed that updating the Agriculture Law is a critical step towards strengthening the sector’s resilience, improving productivity, boosting competitiveness, and enhancing food security, particularly in Upper Egypt, a region historically reliant on agriculture. The modernization effort is seen as vital not only for Egypt’s economic stability but also for the livelihoods of millions of Egyptians dependent on the agricultural sector.
