| In this study the impacts of Egypt's agricultural policies on cropping patterns, resource requirements, and farm income are explored. The use of water resource is given special attention. the alternatives investigated indicate the degree of improvement in resource allocation and farm income that can be brought about under the existing technical and institutional constraints and by shifting from the existing governmentally planned and administered farming system to a free market condition.;The optimal summer cropping pattern for the free market policy alternative closely approximates the actual area in the three summer crops, cotton, rice, and maize brought about by government intervention. Under the Free Market Condition, wheat is the most profitable winter crop. Return to land and family labor which was L.E. 160 per feddan in 1979-80; the analyses indicated that it could increase to L.E. 361 per feddan under Free Market Condition. Assessment of the water delivery cost of L.E. 0.005 per cubic meters did not affect the optimal cropping pattern.;Although the cropping pattern and aggregate value of output cannot be changed, significant reduction in import of wheat and water requirement can be achieved. Eliminating distortion in crop prices may also enhance farmer's incentive and consequently lead to higher investment and output.;Linear programming was selected for a systematic analysis of Egyptian agricultural policies. Due to possible differences in the farmer's estimation of fixed costs and family labor and their impact on resource allocation, and differences observed in crop yield and resource proportions between farms of different sizes, three different models were constructed. The four policy alternatives considered for analysis were the base run, administered prices, free market condition, and charge for water. The optimal solution of the basic model closely approximates the actual conditions. Among the winter crops, sugar beets was indicated as being the most profitable crop, followed by flax. Given the limited available market for the profitable winter crops of sugar beets and flax, the production of berseem and raising of sheep and goats appeared to be the most profitable venture for Abu Raia farmers under the existing situation. |
