In light of the current climate change, which is considered one of the most important issues facing the world in general at present, and due to the serious future impacts and repercussions that climate change may cause, particularly threatening the agricultural production system, it is crucial to give this issue significant attention.
Egypt is one of the countries heavily affected by the negative consequences of climate change, which have detrimental effects on agriculture. Among these effects are:
1. Increased occurrences of extreme weather phenomena such as winter dust storms, heavy summer and spring rains, and hot winds in the spring, which affect plant productivity. One of the crops significantly affected is wheat, which experiences losses of up to 18% of its production due to these phenomena.
2. Climate change will alter the boundaries of the agricultural ecosystem and its essential components such as light, heat, water, and atmospheric components, most notably oxygen.
3. There will be an increased likelihood of outbreaks of pests and diseases due to sudden temperature fluctuations and excessive pesticide use.
4. Additionally, other damages will occur, such as rising sea levels and water scarcity, which will negatively impact agriculture in the Delta region due to the flooding of low-lying lands and increased soil salinity.
Given the above, we recommend taking the following steps to mitigate the impact of climate change on small-scale farmers’ agricultural production:
1. A thorough understanding of the nature of each crop, including its growth stages and climatic requirements, and adjusting planting periods accordingly to climate changes.
2. Selecting crops and varieties that can be cultivated under extreme climate variability conditions, whether high or low temperatures. Innovative and sustainable agricultural techniques can be adopted to enhance agricultural resilience and reduce the impacts of climate change, such as:
3. Transitioning to drought-resistant and water-saving agriculture, such as cultivating drought-tolerant crops and implementing efficient irrigation techniques like drip irrigation and sprinkler irrigation.
4. Embracing sustainable farming practices such as crop rotation, preserving biodiversity on farms, and using organic fertilizers.
5. Encouraging the use of renewable energy in agriculture, such as solar and wind energy, for electricity generation and operating agricultural equipment.
6. Promoting preventive measures and risk management to deal with extreme weather phenomena, such as developing early warning systems and insuring crops and agricultural activities.
7. Enhancing awareness and providing training for small-scale farmers on climate change and how to adapt to it, including providing information on sustainable agricultural techniques and cost-effective practices.
Governments, international organizations, and the international community as a whole should collaborate to support small-scale farmers in adopting these technologies and practices, providing the necessary funding and resources to enhance their ability to adapt to climate change and preserve agricultural productivity in Egypt and worldwide.