Abstract

This study deals with Egypt’s growing challenge of water scarcity in relation to agriculture through understanding farmers’ perceptions and adaptation measures to water scarcity as they are the forefront users of water. Through qualitative research approach, fieldwork interviews with rice farmers in Kafr El Sheikh governorate in Egypt and in-depth interviews with water management experts were conducted to identify farmers’ perceived causes of water scarcity and their adaptation behaviors and practices in relation to the broader policy context of water management. The study revealed that farmers’ perceived causes of water scarcity are related to inefficiency and inequity of the institutional and infrastructural governance of the irrigation system, which are exacerbated by the farmers’ socio-economic conditions (location, income, and social networks/influence). Farmers’ adaptation practices include reusing treated and untreated agricultural drainage water, shifting crops and changing crop varieties. Use of untreated drainage water poses an alarming national health hazard, which is important to address to ensure agricultural drainage water meets quality and safety standards. Findings also reveal the differentiated experience of adaptation capacities among farmers where socio-economic conditions could entail limited adaptation capacities. Farmers’ adaptation measures are thus considered temporary or short-term measures which imply that farmers’ coping strategies to water shortage are not systemic, but rather individualized and localized and do not manifest long-term, just, and sustainable change in a water-scarcity situation. The findings of this study also point out several policy limitations to supporting farmers adaptation to water scarcity and to the overall agricultural water management in Egypt. Lack of farmers’ participation, tokensim dynamic, and limited support channels are major features of the agricultural water management system, which hinder real and sustainable progress in irrigation efficiency and water management. Additionally, a policy dialogue disconnect between the government and other stakeholders is a clear feature in the broader policy context of Egypt’s water management. This is especially critical as alignment in the direction and efforts are detrimental to the efficiency and sustainability of water-related interventions both on a national and local level. Several policy recommendations are put forward to address farmers’ adaptation capacities, improvement in the irrigation system management and operations as well as sectoral development and the overall water policy direction in Egypt.

School

School of Global Affairs and Public Policy

Department

Public Policy & Administration Department

Degree Name

MA in Public Policy

Graduation Date

Fall 2-19-2024

Submission Date

9-13-2024

First Advisor

Noura Wahby

Committee Member 1

Laila El Baradei

Committee Member 2

Shahjahan Bhuiyan

Extent

122 p.

Document Type

Master's Thesis

Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

Approval has been obtained for this item

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