Agriculture
04 Feb 2011
The agriculture sector has been selected on the basis of the priorities in the bilateral relation between The Netherlands and Egypt.
The priority themes within this sector have been selected on the basis of a capacity gap analysis conducted during a discussion group with sector representatives. They are:
- agricultural extension services;
- vocational agricultural training (currently on hold);
- farm management (currently on hold);
- quality control and accreditation (currently on hold);
- e-learning, with a focus on aquaculture (currently on hold).
These themes have been checked against the priority areas as mentioned in the national agricultural policies and demands expressed during talks with the Ministry.
The Dutch Embassy's Multi Annual Strategic Plan (MASP) for Egypt states that agriculture and horticulture form important sectors in bilateral trade and investment relations. In these areas there is also extensive cooperation between authorities, traders, investors and research institutes.
Extension services
Extension services are an essential link between the universities and the farming community and could be key to improving the quality and increasing the quantity of Egypt's agricultural production. The extension services are currently run by the ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation (MoALR). A pilot project will be set up in the Fayoum Governorate to improve the extension services. Private parties may play a larger role in the extension services sector in the future.
The association appointed to take over the extension services has expressed the need to learn from the Dutch experiences with training in this field. Therefore, NICHE will provide support to strengthen the training component.
Vocational agricultural training (currently on hold)
The skills gap in the agriculture sector represents a problem for businesses. According to the World Bank, in 2008 more than half of all businesses in Egypt identified the skills gap as a major constraint. This was confirmed in the discussion group meeting.
The national strategy recognizes that the imbalance between human development policies and agricultural investment and development policies has caused a lack of skilled labour. Meanwhile, unemployment remains very high in rural communities.
NICHE will seek to tackle this problem by investing in the institutional development of agricultural technical schools and vocational training.
Farm management (currently on hold)
The agricultural sector in Egypt needs better-qualified managers. Marketing, production and regulation have become more complicated. Modern agriculture and globalization also call for quality control and accreditation.
Quality control and accreditation (currently on hold)
According to the OECD's review Higher Education in Egypt 2010, Egypt has adopted a strong approach to external quality assurance. Important work remains to be done at the institutional level to mature the internal quality culture and management capacity. NICHE therefore supports capacity building in the field of quality control and accreditation.
E-learning (currently on hold)
Current training systems do not have the capacity to reach enough people and include state-of-the-art technologies and know-how. E-learning could be a tool to reach more people, including more women. The activities in e-learning will initially focus on the aquaculture sector, but other sectors may also benefit. Sustainable use of water and land resources is a main aspect of the EKN's agricultural cooperation policies. With regard to aquaculture the aim is to promote sustainable fish farming.
