ABSTRACT   The date industry in Egypt in general and in Siwa Oasis in particular has an important economic position in the food industries sector, where the value of manufactured products amounted to about 41.5 billion pounds, representing about 15.7% of the total value of production of food industries to about 263.8 billion pounds during 2017.   The research aims to   In general, the research aims to identify the feasibility of investing in the activities of the units and drying and filling dates in Siwa Oasis by studying the criteria of financial and economic evaluation of these projects to identify the financial and economic feasibility.   The results showed drying units and packing date is the small capacity, and the large capacity in Siwa Oasis is as follows   - The possibility of expanding the establishment of drying units and packing dates in the small and large capacity for Siwa Oasis, where 160 workers on average, while the average wage per day for the worker about 345 pounds, 295.5 pounds respectively during the season 2018/ 2019. - The average value of Net Present Value worth was 12.99 million pound, 29.94 million pound respectively, accordinat to the Internal Rate of Return, it reached about 55.5% and 73.5% respectively, which is intended to be higher than the opportunity cost available in the community, for capital investment of about 16.25%. - The Pay Back Period rate for these units was about 1.6 years, and the rate of Benfit to the cost indicated a value greater than the correct one for all date drying units and packing in Siwa Oasis.   Which indicates the possibility of expanding the development and establishment of date drying units and packing in Siwa Oasis according to the criteria used in the study, which emphasizes the safety of investment and efficiency of customization in the date drying units and packing to provide new employment opportunities and promote the employment of women and increase the value of agricultural production and income in the oasis, The negative effects of the research are increasing the monopoly of owners of these units and work to reduce the prices of dates and oasis and reduce the incomes of agricultural producers.    The recommendations of the research can be summarized as follows   - Training and raising the skills of those involved in the anufacturing process. - Control the export of dates, which indicates the maintenance of the reputation of the dates of the Siwa in particular, and dates in Egypt in general. - Provide financial support by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, which indicates the purchase of sorting machines. - Provide financial support by the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation to provide the bags necessary for the process of curving, which indicates to improve the qualities of the product, which encourages the increase of exports. - Preparation of a database and information for agricultural statistics and data on drying units and packing dates and complementary industries.

This research attempts generally to discuss the readiness for using social media in agricultural extension in Assiut governorate, and it endeavors particularly to reach the following aims: (1) Measuring readiness of the extension organization in Assiut governorate to start providing agricultural extension services using social media from the viewpoint of extension employees; (2) Exploring the willingness of farmers in some villages in Assiut governorate to obtain agricultural extension services using social media, and to identify the most significant determinants of the willingness to use social media; (3) Knowing about the respondents’ views about the advantages, disadvantages and suggestions of using social media in agricultural extension. The study was conducted on two groups of respondents who use at least one of social media tools; the first was comprised of 86 extension employees in Assiut governorate, and the second was a sample of 120 farmers selected from four villages in Assiut governorate. Data were collected using questionnaire form during the   period from November to December 2018. Frequencies, percentages, arithmetic mean, and stepwise multiple regression analysis were used for data presentation and analysis. The results indicated a decrease in the extension organization’s readiness for using social media from the viewpoint of extension employees, while farmers have a high willingness to use social media to obtain extension services. Therefore, it is necessary to use the recommendations of improving the extension organization’s reediness to use social media, in order to exploit the high willingness of farmers, and start using social media to provide extension services in Assiut governorate through implementing an initial initiative through farmers who use social media, and then the initiative can be expanded to include non-users through their family members who are using social media, taking into account the respondents’ suggestions for the successful use of social media in the provision of agricultural extension services.

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is one of the oldest trees cultivated by human; Egypt has been ranked as the first country in the production of dates, soft, semi dry and dry date cultivars are cultivated in wide area of Egypt. Therefore, this work was carried out to determine the Glycemic Index (GI) and Glycemic Load (GL) of five Egyptian varieties of date fruit in healthy subjects. Chemical composition analysis was carried out for five types of date fruit (Partamoda, Malakabi, Saadi, Zaghluol and Samani); also, antioxidant power was determined. The study subjects were ten healthy volunteers, each subject was tested on six separate visits with 50 g of glucose and 50 g equivalent of available carbohydrates from the five date varieties. Capillary glucose was measured in the healthy subjects at 0, 30, 60 and 120 min. The GI was determined as ratios of the incremental areas under the response curves for the dates compared to glucose. Collecting data showed that Egyptian varieties of date fruit contain a good nutrients and antioxidant power. Among the five Egyptian varieties of date fruit, the chemical characteristics by moisture content in fruits was the highest in Samani date fruit and lowest in Partamoda dates; also, the five Egyptian varieties of date fruit contain available carbohydrate (7.4% - 69.2%), proteins (1.85 % - 7.0 %), total dietary fiber, TDF (11.82% - 15.63%) and Energy value (76.2 - 297.9 Kcal/100g). The antioxidant activity ranged between 52.61 and 79.12% as scavenging activity for free radicals; also, dates rich in phenols. The medium GI was recorded by Malakabi followed by Saadi and Partamoda which had high GL; while, the lowest GI was recorded for soft date fruit (Zaghluol and Samani) which had medium GL. These findings point to the potential benefits of Egyptian date fruit for healthy subjects when used in a stable healthy diet.

The crops of the legumes, especially the domestic beans, are considered the most important food groups due to their high nutritional value, in addition to their importance in improving soil properties. The state aims to encourage the expansion of the faba bean production to fill the food gap and also to supply hard currency. Egypt is one of the most important importing countries for beans. The legume crops are considered the most important food groups because of the high nutritional value. The bean is a strategic commodity for the Egyptian citizen. The study aims at reducing the imports of the Egyptian faba bean. Egypt's demand for faba bean, estimation of the competitive advantage of the main exporting countries of Egypt, and the comparative advantage index. The study found that the quantity of Egyptian bean imports increased by an annual rate of about 2.41 thousand tons. This increase is statistically insignificant at 0.05 level, and the value of Egypt's imports of faba bean has taken an upward trend at an annual rate of about 7 million dollar This increase is statistically insignificant at 0.05 level, and the price of Egypt's imports of faba bean has taken an downward trend at an annual rate of about 14.5 dollar/tons This increase is statistically insignificant at 0.05 level and the study of the geographical distribution of imports of Egyptian fab beans shows that the United Kingdom, Australia and France Representing 88 % Of Egypt's imports of beans. The percentage of Egypt's imports of faba bean decreased at a growth rate of 14%. The volume of exports of the United Kingdom and France decreased by 38% and 96%, respectively, while Australia increased its exports by 5% The elasticity of demand functions also showed that the elasticity of the price demand of Australia's export price indicates that the de mand is inelastic and Egypt needs this commodity from the Australian market, and the income elasticity shows that the commodity is poor by increasing income. The explanation of the elasticity of the demand for the price of France's exports shows that the demand is inelastic and Egypt needs this commodity from the French market. It is also evident from the income elasticity that the commodity is normal, i.e., the increase in income is the required quantity of the commodity, while the elasticity of the price demand of the UK export price shows that demand is not Flexible and Egypt needs this commodity from the British market, as evidenced by the income elasticity that the commodity is poor by increasing the income decreases the required quantity of the commodity. The study of forecasting Egypt's imports of Australian beans shows that the volume of imports of beans is expected to increase from about 136 thousand tons in 2018 to about 245.6 thousand tons in 2025. It is expected that the quantity of imports of British beans will increase from about 58 thousand tons 2018 to about 277.3 thousand tons in 2025. It is expected that the quantity of imports of French beans will fall from about 0.334 thousand tons in 2018 to about 45.9 thousand tons. It is also expected that the quantity of Egyptian imports of beans will increase from about 410 thousand tons in 2018 to about 500 thousand tons in 2025, is expected to decrease the amount of domestic production of beans from about 144 thousand tons in 2018 to about 16 thousand tons And it was found that the available amount of consumption is expected to decrease from about 281 thousand tons in 2018 to about 72.5 thousand tons in 2025.

This study was carried out through two consecutive seasons 2016 and 2017 to investigate the effect of spraying with some antioxidants on vegetative growth, yield, fruit quality and nutritional status of twelve years old Navel orange trees on sour orange rootstock grown in a private orange orchard in Qalubia Governorate, Egypt cultivated in a silty clay loam soil. This experiment involved three antioxidant materials named (salicylic acid, citric acid and folic acid) and each one spraying by three levels of each of with (250, 500 and 1000 ppm) from each salicylic, citric and folic acid plus control treatment so the experiment included ten treatments. Selected trees were spraying three times (at the beginning of the growth cycle in March, just after fruit setting in May and just after June drop in July) by aqueous solution of salicylic acid, citric acid and folic acid until the point of runoff. The highest values of vegetative growth were obtained by spraying 500 ppm salicylic acid, 1000 ppm citric acid and 500 ppm folic acid. Regarding to yield, results pointed out that the foliar spraying with 500 ppm salicylic acid, 500 ppm citric acid and 250 ppm folic acid gave the highest values of yield. Treatments 500 ppm salicylic acid, 250 ppm citric acid and 250 ppm folic acid gave the highest values of physical and chemical fruit properties. In respect to nutrients content, the highest values of macronutrients were obtained by spraying 250 ppm folic acid, while that spraying 1000 ppm salicylic acid and 250 ppm folic acid gave the highest values of micronutrients. Therefore, using treatments 500 ppm salicylic acid, 500 ppm citric acid and 250 ppm folic acid may be recommended from economical point of view and as good treatments for enhancing Navel orange growth, yield, fruit quality and nutritional status especially under old citrus orchards.

The ultimate goal of this study is to find out the most suitable combinations of adjacent crops that reduce house sparrows damage. The experiments were established using single and double combinations of four wintery crops. Namely, soft wheat, hard wheat, sunflower, and barley. The double cultivations were designed by growing varying crops nearby a fixed one crop as follows 1- (soft wheat alone), (soft wheat- near sunflower), ( soft wheat near – barley), and (soft wheat near – hard wheat) 2- (barley alone),(barley- near soft wheat), (barley near - hard wheat), and (barely- near sunflower) 3-(hard wheat alone),( hard wheat- near barley), (hard wheat near – sunflower), and ( hard wheat near – soft wheat). The experimental results revealed the following; the damage percentage of house sparrows to soft wheat was 25.9 %, but when grown nearby sunflower, barley, and hard wheat the soft wheat damage reached 5.9 %, 25.9 %, and 33.3 %, respectively. In single cultivation of barley, house sparrows damage was 8.2 %, but when grown nearby soft wheat, hard wheat and sunflower, the barley damage reached 13.5 %, 1.7 % and 1.2 %, respectively. Single cultivation of hard wheat house sparrows damage was 0.0 %, while when grown adjacent to barley, sunflower, and soft wheat, the hard wheat damage reached 0.0 %,0.0 % 3.8 %, respectively. In single cultivation of sunflower, house sparrows damage was 20.2 %, while when grown nearby, barley, soft wheat , and hard wheat, the sunflower damage reached 9.5 %, 10.2 % and 36.3 %, respectively. Results obtaine from this study revealed the following: 1- sunflower could be grown nearby barley and / or soft wheat, but away from hard wheat; 2- barley could be grown nearby sunflower and /or soft wheat, but away from hard wheat; 3- soft wheat could be grown nearby sunflower, but away from hard wheat; 4- hard wheat could be grown nearby barley or sunflower, but away from soft wheat. These concomitant cultivations can be successfully practiced be small growers to protect their main crops from house sparrows attack naturally and effectively without using any pest control compounds and without any extra costs as well.

Medicinal and aromatic plants are considered to be non-traditional, multi-use crops, both in their direct form and in their indirect form, through the extraction and use of active substances in the pharmaceutical industry, the food industry, perfumery, cosmetics and soap, either in the form of pills, plants or medicinal and aromatic herbs. The cultivated area of medicinal and aromatic plants in Egypt amounted to about 46.2 thousand feddans with a percentage of 0.27% of the crop area of about 15.525 million feddans in the agricultural season (2011-2018). The cultivated area of the study crops was about 20.21 thousand feddans, The company has about 48.15% of the area of medicinal and aromatic plants during the period (2011-2018), and Egypt is located in the markets of medicinal and aromatic plants worldwide, with a trade volume of more than 60 billion dollars annually, which is a major exporter of 158.94 million dollars Which is equivalent to about 1127.038 million pounds in 2014 representing about 3.07%, 0.594% of the camel The value of Egyptian agricultural exports and total exports of 36.711, 189.741 billion pounds respectively in 2014, the problem of the study is that the cultivated areas of medicinal and aromatic plants are limited and fluctuating and low in some cases, where in recent years the areas of latency and rumen decreased from about 5,545,99759 years 2010, 2017, 2016 to about 5.152, 98759 acres in 2018, and although it is profitable crops for the farmer and the new land can be a good solution to compensate for the cost of reclamation, and this reflects on the domestic production of the failure to meet the needs of export and meet the needs of the company V Local of medicinal and aromatic plants. In spite of the urgent need to increase exports, the deficit in the Egyptian trade balance is about 329.085 billion pounds in  2017. The study examined the productive and economic indicators of the most important medicinal and aromatic plants in Egypt. The cultivated areas of the study crops declined. The latency decreased by 5.1% With an average area of about 3,616 feddan and an average area of about 3651 feddan, while the average area of the basil was about 10.685 thousand feddans, while the average value of cash amounted to about 29,072, 41.561 million pounds for the quail and basil respectively, The value of their exports continues to rise by 10.6%, 15.42% from the average of 3866.8 and 2553 thousand dollars respectively for the period of study, as well as the increase in quantities exported from cumin and monetary value by 11.79% from the average of 1047 tons and 16.45% The statistical estimate of the production of the most important medicinal and aromatic plant crops in the sample of the study, Cumin and Rihan, was examined to determine the economic efficiency and productivity of the agricultural resources available and used for each and their importance in Egyptian agriculture, Illustrates the high economic efficiency of the majority of the elements of production of crops, cumin, basil sample study of farmers Samalout and Beni Mazar of basil in Beni Suef governorate, low economic efficiency of the element of seeds in crop cumin, manure and municipal phosphate crop basil which requires rationalization of the use by farmers of cumin sample study. The study also included the statistical estimation of the production cost functions of the most medicinal and aromatic plants in the sample of the study. Finally, the study dealt with the quantity, value and price of Egyptian exports of basil and cumin.

The present work is aimed to isolate, purify, identify a newly isolate Rhizobium fabae from different regions in Egypt then, produce and optimize Poly-β-Hydroxybutyrate polymer (PHB) production by the selected isolate Rhizobium fabae F44 using a statistical approach of response surface methodology (RSM). Rhizobium fabae F44 isolate was picked up from Sharkia Governorate in Egypt and then identified by the 16SrRNA gene as Rhizobium fabae. Eleven different variables which affect the production of PHB polymer were screened by Plackett–Burman statistical design approach. Maximization of PHB production was adjusted by the terms of The Face Central Composite Design (FCCD) of RSM and assessed at three coded levels (–1, 0, +1). One way Anova was used to statistically analyze all obtained results in relation to post hoc multiple comparison analysis performed by Tukey’s HSD. Appulses of nutritional and physical factors (two carbon sources, two nitrogen sources, mineral salts, pH, temperature, incubation time, inoculum size and agitation rate) were studied using Plackett-Burman design method. 58 isolates were obtained from the different 9 governorates with 100 % infection plant technique. The 16SrRNA showed a similarity of 99.56 (%) to Rhizobium fabae F44. Out of all tested significant media components, sucrose, yeast extract, agitation rate had the highest significant effects on the response as for PHB production, with confidence level > 98% and were further optimized using FCCD. Predicted Maximum PHB production was observed as (78.51%) which in near the mid-point (0) values (concentrations) of sucrose which reached (25 g/l) and yeast extract of (0.5 g/l) for 48 hrs. at 150 rpm agitation rate. The observed experimental value reached 87.5u/ml was very close result to the predicted one validating the model. So, Response Surface Methodology is an effective statistical approach which can substitute the use of one variable at a time approach due to its adequacy and efficiency to optimize PHB production by Rhizobium fabae F44.

The purpose of this study is to improve texture, flavor and overall quality of low-fat white soft cheese. Using sodium caseinate (SC) and / or butter milk powder (BMP) in different ratios. Buffalo’s milk was divided into two portions. The first portion was standardized to 3% fat and served as a control (1). The second portion was standardized to 1% fat and sub divided into five parts, the first part was served as control (2), the second part fortified with 2% SC (T1), the third part fortified with 2% BMP (T2), forth part fortified with 1% SC + 1% BMP (T3) and fifth part fortified with 0.5% SC + 1.5% BMP (T4). All cheese treatments stored in salted whey (5% NaCl) at 5±2°C up to 3 months. The results indicated that, control (2) had obviously lower moisture content than control (1). Addition of sodium caseinate and / or butter milk powder to cheese milk led to an increase in moisture content of resultant cheese compared to control (2). A slight increase was observed in total nitrogen % of low-fat all soft cheese treatments versus control (2) being more obvious in T2 and T3. Low-fat soft cheese treatments were characterized by higher soluble nitrogen % than control (2). Moreover, the results showed also that, replacing of milk fat with SC + BMP caused a decrease in hardness, adhesiveness, springiness, chewiness and gumminess in fresh cheese compared to control (2). Sensory properties of Low-fat soft cheese were highly improved by adding SC + BMP to cheese milk as a fat replacer. Low-fat soft cheese was most preferable in T3 with adding SC + BMP (1:1), those improved the compositional as well as the organoleptical properties, especially its body and texture of low fat brined soft cheese after 90 days of cold storage.

Noodles were prepared by incorporation varying blends (0, 20, 40, 60 and 80%) of rice flour in replacement of wheat flour. Noodle samples were evaluated for their proximate composition, scavenging activity, sensory properties and cooking quality characteristics. The proximate composition of uncooked noodles varied significantly, with increasing rice flour level that replaced wheat flour , a gradual decreases in moisture , ash , crude fiber and protein contents in noodle pastes were occurred , their values ranged between 4.02-5.33% ; 1.11-5.22% , 0.65-0.82% and 8.51-12.81% ,respectively. However, an increases in fats, total carbohydrates and energy value were take place ranging between 4.62-8.91 % , 71.11-76.74% and 377.64 - 421.43 kcal/100g, respectively .The antioxidant activity ranged between 22.2% for wheat based noodle (100% wheat flour) to 36.8% for sample containing 80% rice flour as scavenging activity for free radicals. The overall acceptability of wheat-based noodles (WF: RF 100:00) were rated superior for their sensory preferable characteristics. Among the blended flour noodles, the noodles incorporated with up to 40% rice flour received the same acceptability as wheat-based noodle. The cooking quality characteristics differed significantly among the noodle samples; the cooking time ranged from 6.5 to 10.3 min, it was more in wheat-based noodles than noodles from rice flour. Cooking loss; water absorption percent; cooked weight and swelling index values ranged from 0.1 to 0.6%, 137.1 to 231.6%, 23.74 to 33.24 g/g and 3.20 to 5.38 %, respectively; which revealed that a significant hindered was occurred in the functional paste properties and cooking quality parameters with increasing the level rice flour in noodles. The study indicated that, noodles prepared from mixtures of wheat and rice flour showed that the best acceptable sensory attributes and cooking quality characteristics were observed at blending ratio 40 : 60% rice flour : wheat flour . These findings enhance the utilization of non- conventional flours like rice flour for the development of value added noodles with reduced gluten content and boost nutritional value.