Poverty is great obstacle towards achieving sustainable development and economic growth, and threatens political and social stability and security. Poverty doesn’t mean only lack of necessities to fulfill individuals’ welfare, but deprivation from opportunities and choices. Though, previous governments-prior to 25th of January revolution embarked a program aiming poor people through an integrated bunch of developmental projects to improve poor people’s quality of life. This program consists of two main parts: first the main development program targeting 1000 poorest villages (according to the economic development ministry, 2008) and second part the integrated development program which targets 151 villages. In order to enhance the governmental initiative and improve the agriculture sector in Egypt, the current study aims at identifying the conditions of these poor communities via targeting two main and important categories which are agricultural laborers and farmers either tenants or renters of the agricultural lands from gender perspectives, besides identify- ing their problems and suggestions to overcome these problems and their relationship with the relevant agricultural institutions and private sector, and finally their suggested policies to enhance and attract investments to the agriculture sector in Egypt, which will eventually lead to application of more convenient measurements and policies to improve poor people’s livelihoods. The study’s results revealed the rooted poverty especially among agricultural laborers either male or female, but mostly among females, as most of them lack skills, and not gathered in one entity, besides low wages and seasonality of the agriculture work. Therefore most of them are willing to shift to other work opportunities. As for farmers, they suffer from many problems such as high agricultural input prices, soil deterioration, irrigation problems, and deteriorated drainage networks and finally lack of agriculture extension services. In light of the previous results, if no serious measurements and actions taken by the government and relevant stakeholders to improve the agriculture system as a whole, and improve laborers capabilities, solving irrigation and drainage problems, and accessing markets, then we will lose our capabilities to face the accelerating challenges and imbalance in our food security and moreover trapped in the vicious poverty cycle.

The study aims at estimating internal rate of return for the cultivation of date palms project in the new lands to encourage small investors and young graduates, to adopt projects of sustainable agricultural development under the assumption of change revenues and invested costs of the project. Also, explaining some productivity and economic indicators to produce dates in Egypt. The study showed that palm area, number of fruitful palms, palm productivity and the total production of dates annually increase at significant rates during the period of 1996 - 2010. The most important regions producing dates are Behera, Ismailia, 6 October, Aswan, New Valley, Matrouh and Noubaria zone. The most important cultivated varieties are Zaghloul, Samani, Meghal and Siwei. The study indicated that internal rate of return in the new lands as in Northern Sinai, Matrouh and the New Valley reached 28%. It was observed that decreasing total revenue up to 25% with increasing investment costs up to 25%, the internal rate of return is not less than 18%. So, cultivation of date palms is economically a profitable project. Thus, this project contributes to the horizontal agricultural expansion, reducing desertification, encourages some industries related to palm cultivation, creates new jobs, increases date export opportunities to overseas markets and increases agricultural income. Also, profits gained by young graduates are sufficient to pay annual premiums of received loans in addition to the interest of these loans, so that the left return is enough for their livelihood.

The present study was carried out in the desert valley (wadi) Abu Salam (63 Km.) east of Berber city, RiverNileState, and in the nursery of the Faculty of Agriculture, NileValleyUniversity. The autecology and biology of major desert specie, Handal (Citrullus coloynthsis), were studied. The study area (Wadi Abu Salam) was divided into three sections; upper, middle and lower. The soil was classified as sodic soil and contained a high percentage of clay in the upper section, equal percentage of clay and sand in the middle section and high percentage of sand in the lower section. The distribution of Handal plant in the wadi area was investigated. In the first season, it was only detected in the middle section (0.60-0.72 plants/m2). In the second season, the plant was distributed in the three sections of the wadi (1.46-1.66 plants/m2 for the upper section, 0.27-0.49 plants/m2 for the middle section and 0.3-0.4 plants/m2 for the lower sections).The rate of photosynthesis increased during the first stage of growth to reach its maximum (2.2-2.34 gm/day) during the 8th week from the start of germination, then started to decline till it reached its minimum rate (0.10-0.12 gm/day) at the maturity stage in both seasons. Plant roots growth started at a low rate, then, increased with plant development and became equal after 7 weeks from germination. After that, it decreased until it reached its lowest rate at the stage of maturity.

Recent data shows a declining performance in Egyptian foreign trade of agricultural sector especially by increased the Egyptian agricultural import, which leads to increase the deficit of agricultural trade balance. Agricultural processed proucts is consider one of main source of agricultural trade balance deficit. As a result, it is necessary to study the main factors affecting the Egyptian demand of foreign agricultura processed products to determine the most important factors and determine the possible solution in future. It is clear through the research resealt of the factors affecting the quantity of the Egyptian fats and oil imports, that their main factors are determined by the total production of the Egyptian fats and oil, the imports price and the consumption of oils and fats and in the total exports of USA from oil and fats. Moreover, it is obvious from the factors affecting the demand in Egyptian market that the price of the USA fats and oil is considered the main factor in most of these markets. Moreover the effect of free trade agreement and European Egyptian agreement were significant positive for increase the Egyptian demand of foreign oils and fats. So it is important to use some possible solution for decreasing these positive impact of these fators on Egyptian demand for foreign oils and fats for developing countries without being against the activation of these agreements. It is important to control the national consumption and increase the total production of oil and fats.

This study was carried out in Wadi EL- Technologia in Ismailia Governorate, Egypt, during 2010 and 2011 seasons. Washington Navel (N.O.), Valencia (V.O.) and Baladi orange (B.O.) trees budded on Sour orange (S.O.) and Volkamer lemon (V.L.) were grown in sandy soil under drip irrigation system from a well has salinty of (1100 ppm).This investigation aimed to study the effect of the two citrus rootstocks on vegetative growth, yield, fruit quality, leaf mineral content of the three studied scions as well as the effect of such scions on root system growth of both rootstocks. The obtained results indicated that, Volkamer lemon rootstock  recorded the highest significant values of vegetative growth, yield and fruit quality except  T.S.S% and ascorbic acid content . Sour orange rootstock gave the highest significant effect on values of leaf mineral content (N, P, K, Mg, Fe, Zn and Cu) however V.L. showed the highest significant value. while, Ca leaf content recorded insignificantly difference between both  rootstocks. Leaf Mn, content was significantly the highest with S.O. in both seasons. Root fresh and dry weight were the highest significantly with V.L. rootstock. From the showed result, one can recorded that V.O. scion significantly increased the vigour of V.L. root fresh and dry weight. While, B.O. scion showed significantly the lowest vigoure of V.L. root fresh and dry weight. On the other hand, N.O. scion gave a midiate result between V.O. and B.O. scions on root fresh and dry weight.

The study aims at researching the possibility of vertical expansion of wheat crop by increasing the total production of the crop from the same cultivated area by re-distributing the area of crop in different zones of the Republic according to its productivity and show the importance of feddan productivity in increasing total production of this crop.  The study showed that the increase in feddan productivity has an effect in increasing the total production, but its impact in increasing feddan revenue and the value of crop production was weak. It has been shown there is a possibility to increase the total production of wheat crop   by maximizing the economic efficiency of productive resources used in cultivating the crop about 2.09 % of the increase in the total production. The increase in the production of the crop estimated by 1118 thousand ardabs that valued at 99 million LE and save about 53 million cubic meters of irrigation water despite the stability of the cultivated area of wheat crop all over the Republic.  The study recommends reconsideration of the current area of wheat crop by expanding the areas of wheat crop in the governorates or the regions characterized by high productivity to achieve the economic efficiency in the use of the production agricultural resources dedicated for wheat planting, so that they can provide areas for wheat in low productive regions to other crops of high productivity in these regions and then relatively reduce wheat gap in Egypt.

Despite the increase in vegetable exports from 329 thousand ton in the year 2000 to about 3156 thousand tons in 2010, and the increase in vegetable local production from 14.8 million tons to 1019.5 million tons during the same period,the deficit in the agricultural trade balance has increased from $ 11 million in the year 2007 to about $ 18 million in 2012.However, it is noticed that exports of strawberries and artichoke the nontraditional crops, have increased from $ 2.2 million in 2002 to about $ 24.9 million in 2012. For this, the study endeavor to give special concerns to the two products particularly for their high average export prices which have tripled compared with potatoes and onions in recent years. The paper revealed that average exports of strawberries have increased to about 6391 ton and to about 32.6 thousand tons during the period 2005-2007 and 2008-2010 respectively. Belgian market absorbed about 19% and 23 % of the quantity exported during the two periods. Saudi Arabia imported about 11.3 % and 21.4 % of Egyptian strawberries. Egypt has a comparative advantage in producing strawberries as it came the second after Spain. Strawberries face strong competition and the penetration index was put at 0.002 and 0.779 during the two studied periods. This also noticed that Egypt has a relative price advantage compared with Holland, France, Belgium and Spain. For artichoke, the study shows a decrease of average exports from 14.8 thousand tons during the first period to about 11.7 thousand tons during the second period. Italian market absorbed about 64 % and 80 % of total artichoke. Egypt has a relative advantage in producing this crop compared with competing countries. Egypt also price advantage in artichoke compared with Spain, France, and Italy. The paper shows that determinants of total global demand of Strawberries as export to Saudi Arabia, relative price of Saudi price and export price of Egypt and Spain. For artichoke, the determinants were production in Italy, France export price in addition to production and price ratio in French market. The first equation in the econometric model shows that per head consumption of strawberries increases by about 0.95 % with the increase in local production. The second equation in the model shows that per head consumption in important imported countries increases with the increase of per head local production, exchange rate, the increase of per head income in Germany. The study shows that Egyptian –European partnership agreement has its positive effect on strawberries exports. The third equation in the model shows that per head local production has increased by about 0.02 % , 0.07 %  and 0.1% with the increase in per head  local consumption in the last year and the decrease each of per head production in Italy and Russia in the last year, respectively. As for artichoke, the study shows in the first equation of the model that average per head consumption has increased by about 1.01 %, 0.01 % and 0.1% with the increase in local production and the decrease each of artichoke exports and Egyptian price, respectively. The second equation in the model shows that per head Egyptian export in important imported countries with the increase by about 1.1% , 1.2% , 1.8% ,2.1% ,4.7% with the increase  each of export prices in France, Italy, Spain, exchange rate and per capita income in Germany , respectively., Per head of Egyptian export of artichoke has Also increased by about 0.97% , 0.2% with the decrease  each of per head consumption in Egypt and export price of Egypt , respectively . The study showed a negative effect of Egyptian European partnership agreement and SPS treaty on artichoke exports. The third equation in the model shows that per head local production has increased by about 0.01 % , 1.8 % , 1.4% and 0.38% with the increase in per head  local production in the last year and the decrease all of per head production in Italy , Russia and Greece in the last year , respectively.

This study was conducted to revise the taxonomic identity and clarify specific relationships among the studied Triticum species in Egypt. The studied species included; T. dicoccum (Schrank) Schubl.; T. dicoccoides (Koren ex Asch. & Graebn.) Aaron Sohn. T. tugidum L.; T. durum Desf.; T. pyramidale (Delile ex Schult.) Percival and T. aestivum L. Moreover, the wild Emmer Wheat T. dicoccoides (Koren ex Asch. & Graebn.) Aaron Sohn was recently found in Egypt as a new record. The genus Triticum L. includes 14 species, all of them are cultivated for food except the wild Emmer.

The agricultural sector is one of the most important productive sectors in the Egyptian economy. However, the share of the agricultural sector of the investments did not exceed 3% of the national investments in 2011. Therefore, the present study aims to; identify the current status of agricultural investments by studying the fairness of the distribution of national investments among different economic sectors, and estimate of agricultural investments in light of the agricultural development strategy 2030. The results showed that the percentage of investment directed to agricultural sector ranged between 2.91 and 14.21 in years 2010 and 2002 respectively during the period 1995-2011. On the other hand, the public agricultural investment was 2.67 billion L.E (on average) representing 43.89% of the total agricultural investment, while the rest 56.11% was for private agricultural investment. The percentage of justice in the distribution of investments - among commodity sectors- according to the sectoral contribution output criteria in the national economy was about 75.3%.   By investigating of the most important determinants of agricultural investment, the results showed that about 78.3% of the changes in the value of investments in the agricultural sector are interpreted by the interest rate on agricultural loans, the interest rate on bank loans, the rate of inflation, and the exchange rate U.S. $ / pound. On the other hand, workers' wages in pounds/day, the value of agricultural savings LE million, the value of private equity in millions of pounds explain about 96.3% of the total changes in the value of investments in the agricultural sector. In addition, the value of investments variables such as non-agricultural and agricultural loans, public investment, and agricultural output explain about 92.4% of the changes in the value of agricultural investment. The study concludes with a set of important recommendations, including the need to develop and modernize the investment laws and legislation in line with the developments of the local and global changes. Work on a policy commensurate with the investment attributes in the Egyptian agricultural sector such as the disintegration of tenures, the need to restructure the agricultural Banks for Development and Credit to play its important role of credit through the diversification of sources and the establishment of new branches in attractive areas for investment.

Saudi Arabia is its unproductive for vegetable oils in terms of the Kingdom of import and re-export of imported some oils such as corn oil, sunflower oil and olive oil. The quantity and value of exports and imports of these oils are more than a year, however, excluded from that increase the amount of imports of corn oil, the higher the amount of exports of corn oil and olive and palm Also oil  sunflower during the study period, while decreased the amount of exports of sesame oil during the study period also increased the amount of Imports of corn oil, olive, palm and sesame, soy and sunflower increase of about 50.87%, 75.6%, 79.3%, 1141.3%, 50.9% and 611.2%, respectively, during the study period, the study shows the average monthly consumption of the average household Per capita consumption in the research sample was about 0.66, 0.39, 0.48, 1.25, 0.75 per month per liter of corn oil, olive, palm and sesame, soy and sunflower, respectively, and study the average household monthly spending shows that   average household spending in research sample amounted to about 35.2, 39.6, 11.0, 9.2, 30.8 riyals per month for each of corn and olive oil, palm and sesame, soy and sunflower. And study the impact of the level of high oil prices on consumption study sample turned out to be about 61.25% of the study sample affects the families of high oil prices on oil consumption. Estimate function per capita expenditure on oil through the sample research was estimated flexibility expenditure Oils for about 0.21, meaning that individual request oils increase by less than increasing per capita income, as an increase in income by about 10% lead to increased consumer spending on oil by about 2.1%, which means that spending on inelastic oils and oils from the goods necessary for the individual. Assessment of the factors affecting the consumption of oils through the sample research shows that the number of individuals is most influential as the change rate of one individual in the family leads to a change of $ 1.2 riyals in spending on oil while the change rate of one riyal in income leads to a change of $ 0.008 riyals in spending vegetable oils. Also all the different income groups both equally among them in terms of importance in influencing the variation consumption of vegetable oils.