THE PROBLEMS AND CONSTRAINTS THAT HINDER THE DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS EXPORTS OF THE NEW LANDS IN EGYPT المشاکل والمعوقات التى تواجه تنمية الصادرات المصرية من منتجات الأراضى الجديدة

In spite of the recognition showed by the successive Egyptian governments of the great importance of developing the agricultural sector through accomplishment of horizontal & vertical expansion of cultivable lands, agricultural exports of old & reclaimed lands still face several challenges & constraints. Such challenges are closely related to production, finance and export policies plus severe competition practiced in the world markets. The objective of this research revolves around identifying and finding solutions to major constraints affecting competitiveness potentiality of new land’s export oriented production.  The research shows that reclaimed cultivated area increased from 609 thousand feddans in 1990 to 1067 thousand feddans in 1999. This increase reflects clearly the positive impacts of reform package application, which strengthened private sector role in reclamation activities.   Though reclaimed area reached one third of old land, its contribution in agricultural production has not exceeded 14.8% and its livestock & fish production are still far below the targeted figure.  
Commodity pattern of major cash crops include cotton, rice, potato, onion, tomato, orange and medicinal & aromatic plants. The pivotal export crop is still cotton, but rice is a promising one in this respect.   Exports of potato are faced by some negotiation difficulties and orange exports are rapidly deteriorating. Medicinal & aromatic exports could be increased tangibly as those crops are grown well in newly reclaimed areas.  Due to the growing competition and its impacts on the world market, especially after trade liberalization, specific programs for quality control and integrated pest control management are strongly needed. It is fairly known that food and agricultural products chemical free are warmly welcomed in several foreign markets. To broaden the market share, information and data base should be completed and processing & packaging services should be developed as well. Cooperatives should be given more active role in improving new land’s exports. They can do this role through a financial pool, which extends credit service to establish cooling & processing centers for export promotion purposes.