The poor of Egypt are facing rising food prices. This is a slight departure from my usual subjects - financial trends and economic news. In this case, we are looking t a case of regression. Since the uprising that ended the last regime, citizens have had a marked increase in food prices, in particular vegetables. The uprising was quiet a disrupting event.
Now, Egypt imports 70% of all its food. The rest is grown on small family farms along the Nile. These small farms have seen an increase in the price of fertilizer and seeds. They aren't able to grow amounts they would've just a few years ago. Logistics is an issue as well, being that half of all food spoils before reaching market.
The farmers along the Nile have never been able to embrace modern farming methods. The Ministry of Agriculture, which creates farming policies within the country, has poorly managed Egyptian farms. That isn't to say they should adopt the fertilizer intensive and water intensive methods we utilize. Though, they could increase their yield by modernizing their methods. The new Minister of Agriculture plans to revolutionize Egypt’s agriculture by 2030. This is all well and good, but won't help people today. Only time can tell if the new government will be able to alleviate the poor's troubles. In reality, they have no choice; a food shortage was a factor contributing to the recent uprising.
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