North Sinai farming community is facing many challenges such as increasing drought and salinity in water and soil, poor quality soils, a long hot summer with high solar radiation; in addition to poor experience of settled farmers and local Bedouins in improving traditional agriculture and animal productivity under saline conditions. The main objective of the study is to establish the efficiency of resource use in millet production among smallholder farmers in North Sinai region. Using a multi-stage random sampling procedure in selecting farmers interviewed. A structured questionnaire was administered to 60 smallholder farmers selected for analysis; the farmers were divided into two groups based on ownership and use of animals on the farm, and used a model to evaluate efficiency of the two groups. In this model, a Cobb-Douglas production function was fitted for the cross- sectional data generated from the survey. The ratio of marginal value product (MVP) to marginal factor cost (MFC) for all inputs was found to be greater than unity among all groups of farmers implying under-utilization of resources. Millet farmers were found to experience increasing returns to scale, meaning use of additional inputs in millet production would result in higher yields. The null hypothesis, which stated that smallholder farmers in North Sinai region are not allocating their farm resources efficiently in millet production, was tested and rejected at 5% level of significance. It was therefore concluded that millet farmers in North Sinai region were sub-optimally allocating resources in their production system.

Wheat is considered one of the main grain crop that human is depend in his diet all over the world. It is a strategic crop globally and locally in Egypt. The problem of the research refers to the gap between local wheat production and consumption. This gap forced the country to import wheat and thus represent a burden on the Egyptian balance of trade. It is the objective of the present paper is therefore to investigate ways to alleviate the deficit of wheat production and gap. The study assess wheat area, production and productivity during the period 1995-2013 particularly in the desert governorates. The study estimates wheat gap during the above period by about 67.14 million ton. Safe efficiency is therefore was put as 54.1%. Losses of wheat were put as about 1017 about 14.2% in the country as a whole.  The study estimates that wheat production in Matrooh and New Valley governorate is expected to be about 173.56 and 277.8 thousand ton respectively. The study suggests that measures should be taken to decrease losses of wheat during harvesting and marketing. New storage facilities should be established. The study recommends that special concern should be given to wheat cultivation in desert governorate by encouraging former to grow wheat by covering good wheat price to encourage formers

The tomato leaf miner, Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is an invasive pest, that caused a significant damage to the tomato crop in the Middle East area. It infests Solanaceae plants especially tomato, Lycopersicon esculuntum Mill. To find parasitoids and predators for biological control of this pest, samples of tomato leaves infested with T. absoluta were collected from Qualiobya and Giza Governorates. Three genera of hymenopterous parasitoids, Diglyphus sp. (Eulophidae), Elasmus spp. (Elasmidae) and Telenomus sp. (Scelionidae) are the first record in Egypt. The predator bug, Nesidiocoris tenuis Reuter (Heteroptera: Miridae) was also recorded. T. absoluta showed two peaks of 30.3 and 25.0 leaf mines/10 leaflets on 7th and 28th of May, 2013, respectively. N. tenuis also recorded two peaks of 58.8 and 73.3 nymphs and adults/plant on the same previous dates, respectively. N. tenuis was mass reared to evaluate the predatory efficiency of nymph and adult stages on T. absoluta eggs. The nymph, adult male and female consumed 113.3, 81.5 and 125.3 eggs of T. absoluta, respectively. The 4th nymphal instar devoured the highest number (30.6 eggs), while the 1st nymphal instar ate the lowest (7eggs). Therefore, N. tenuis was highly effective in controlling T. absoluta eggs under laboratory conditions.

This study was conducted to estimates the Malmquist productivity indices using the data envelopment analysis (DEA) for 165 countries over 8 regions and classified across 8 groups based on agricultural gross production value during the study period (1980-2007). The total factor productivity including and measure the efforts in the resource allocation, modernization, the technological change, and catch-up efforts in the agriculture sector in any country. While, Malmquist TFP index measures total factor productivity change between two data points by calculating the ratio of the distance function of each data point relative to a common technology. The data used in this study was drawn from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This paper also estimated the technical efficiency, technical efficiency change and technical change for countries in each group and for all those countries as one group.

The research aimd to identify changes of food expenditure patterns among Saudis and resident foreigners in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, by estimating expenditure functions for both the Saudis and resident foreigners, and estimate expenditure elasticity and marginal propensity to expend for household of major food groups. The study relied on cross-sectional data from the family budget survey conducted in Kingdom. Quantitative analysis and statistical tests were utilized. Means and indexes number, simple regression in linear and double logarithmic form for estimating expenditure food functions, in addition to the test of  homogeneity of regression using chow test. The results of the study  showed that the average monthly expenditure for Saudi household on miscellaneous goods and personal services as agroup, housing, water, electricity, fuel as asecond groups, food and drinks as athird groups, respectively 21.2 % , 20.7 % , 16.9 % of total expenditure. this classification differed for resident foreigners were the top three ranked expenditure groups were the housing, water, electricity, gas and fuel as one group, food and drinks as asecond groups, the miscellaneous goods and personal services as athird groups, respectively 21.8 %, 20.1% , 14.7% of total expenditure . The results of the study also showed that the Saudis are more flexible than resident foreigners in expenditure on food and drinks in general, where the consumption expenditure elasticity on food and drinks for Saudis was equal to 0.70, which was bigger than that for foreigners 0.61, yet the situation varied between commodities. The first group included the food commodities with consumption expenditure functions that were homogenous for Saudis and foreigners. These commodities were Fish and seafood, milk and milk products, eggs, sugar, jam, honey, food products are not classified, and coffee, tea and cocoa. Expenditure elasticity has been estimated was equal 0.85, 0.77, 0.78, 0.95, and 0.89, respectively. As for the food groups that expenditure pattern differs between Saudis and foreigners, this group included the food commodities with consumption bread and cereals, meat and poultry, adible oils and fats, pulses, fruits, vegetables, mineral water , soft drinks and juices, for Saudis was 0.50, 0.65, 0.62, 0.77, 0.78, 0.90, respectively. While for foreigners amounted to 0.29, 0.35, 0.51, 0.64, 0.56, 0.70, respectively, all of which are less than one, which indicates that demand for these food groups, is inelastic demand i.e. necessary good.

Two field experiments were carried out in Agric. Expt. Farm, Fac. of Agric., Ain Shams Univ. at Shalakan, Kaleobia Governorate, Egypt during 2013 and 2014 growing seasons. These experiments aimed to study the effect of seed hardening treatments (without, -4 bar, -6 bar and  -8 bar polyethylene glycol (PEG6000)) on yield and its attributes and nitrogen physiological parameters of maize (zea maize) under irrigation periods (irrigation every 14, 21 and 28 day) . The data revealed that all tested treatments affected significantly yield and its attributes traits except ear length. The highest values of ear weight (246.2 g), ear diameter (4.62 cm), number of rows/ear (13.6), shelling percentage (82,64%), grain yield/fad (3.58 ton), biological yield/fad (11.81 ton) and 100 kernels weight (g) (39.07) were recorded with -8 bar (PEG) treatment. Moreover -8 bar (PEG) this treatment recorded the highest values of grain nitrogen yield (kg/fad) and lowest value of grain nitrogen percentage (%). Irrigation every 14 days was characterized by significant higher yield attributes, which reflected its yield parameters and produced significant maximum grain yield. Irrigation every 14 day recorded significant highest grain and biological yield, which reflected its grain N yield and total N absorbed in plant. Maximum values of NUE and NRE ware optioned when maize plant irrigated every 14 day followed by irrigation every 21 day and irrigation every 28 day. On the other hand, NPE and NHI of studied irrigation periods were significantly differed; the highest values were recorded when maize irrigated every 28 day. The results also showed that seed hardening treatments (-4, -6 and -8 bar PEG) under irrigation periods 14 and 21 day recorded the highest values of ear length (cm) and ear diameter (cm). The high performance of irrigation every 14 day with hardening -8 bar PEG in yield attributes was reflected on its yield parameters. These parameters reached their highest significant values included grain and biological yield ware 3.97 and 13.55 ton/fad respectively; meanwhile; the lowest values in case of without hardening under irrigation every 28 day ware 2.17 and 7.84 ton/fad respectively .

An experiment was carried out to study the effect of some agricultural and chemical treatments on two serious insects i.e. leaf miner, Tuta asoluta (Meyrick), and the cotton whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Genn.) that infest tomato plants, as well as the influence on the growth, fruit yield and its quality  were evaluated. The trail was carried out in a sandy soil at Amoun Agricultural Association, Eltal El Kabier, Ismailia Governorate, Egypt during two autumn seasons of 2013 and 2014. The experiment included 7 treatments as follows: covering tomato plants with agryl, white and green net as a row covering tunnels, dusting with Sulfur (repellent the insect) as the safety material for human and environmental comparing chemical pesticides i.e. Actara using it as foliar spraying or soil drench and untreated control. The results showed that the all treatments induced significant positive impact for all infest status which reduced the incidence of the two serious insects’ i.e. T. asoluta and B. tabaci on tomato plants than the control treatment during the first and second seasons. Data also showed that the all treatments were infested by tomato leaf miner (eggs and larvae stage) with low numbers of eggs under the tested conditions during the two seasons except of covering with Agryl, white net and green net which were free from any tomato leaf miner. In addition, soil treatment (soil drench) application was the most potent treatment in protecting tomato plants from the whitefly immature stages, but the lowest percentage of plants exhibiting virus symptoms (TYLCV) recorded  by covering with white net treatment compared with untreated (control) during the two tested seasons. Concerning the effect of using some agricultural and the chemical treatments on horticultural characters of tomato plant, the obtained results indicated positive effect on the all studied parameter of tomato i.e. vegetative growth characters, physical and chemical fruit characters, flowering characteristics and yield components during the two seasons. The data showed that the rows covering with white net was the best potent treatment safety treatment for human healthy followed by foliar spraying with Actara 25% WG (Thiamethoxam) 20g./100 of water as chemical treatment on yield, which recorded  (41.7 and 43.2), (30.32 and 32.13) tons per feddan during the first and second seasons respectively compared with other treatments. Moreover the covering with white net also recoded the first ranking in economic study which recoded the best value (34200 and 35700) Egyptian pound on total income without addition the cost of agriculture practices during the first and second seasons respectively. For that it can recommend by covering tomato plants with white net followed by covering with agryl especially at heavy infection seasons with the serious insects as T. asoluta and B. tabaci for producing high tomato yield with best quality, in addition safety human health and environment without using pesticide.

For improving the safety of filling cream, the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) system was applied during different preparation process. Different biological, chemical, and physical hazards that may exist in every preparing step of filling cream were identified and control measures were used for controlling those identified hazards. Dried milk powder was identified as high potential hazard raw materials contaminated with pathogenic bacteria e.g. S. aureus and Salmonella sp. Whipping step in preparing filling cream was identified as critical control point. For improving the safety of preparing filling cream system, different control measures including, thermal processing (pasteurization), addition of natural preservatives (lemongrass oil and herbs of cinnamon, clove and anise) and reduction of pH (fruit pulps of strawberry, apricots and apple) were established. Different applied control measures could be used for improving the safety of prepared filling cream where different investigated microbiological criteria were reduced to acceptable levels especially pathogenic bacteria. In addition, different HACCP principles as the critical control points, critical limits, monitoring, corrective measures, verifications and records were established. Implementing the HACCP system during preparing filling cream can effectively ensure safety of this product and other food products contained filling cram especially bakeries.

The research aimed at studying current situation improvement for grain crops production to meet international and domestic demand needs regularly with stable prices and standard specification, through analysis and assessment Egyptian price policy for crops subject of study, using policy agricultural analysis matrix, partial equilibrium  model, measuring the impact of government interference on producers, consumers, foreign trade and government revenue as a result of implementing specific policy, and the impact of this on input and output utilizing efficiency, and on economic welfare on society and government revenue for those crops. The study indicates that, from calculating nominal protection coefficient, there was implicit subsidy for producers in the first period (2008-2010). In the second period (2011-2013) the subsidy decreased, taxes are imposed, and there was implicit taxes in the form of negative protection against producers and decrease in the consumer's subsidy proportion. As a result of studying domestic resource cost for the study crops, it showed that, the value of coefficient less than one to rice, wheat, and maize. Which indicate to the ability of the current economy to save foreign currency through domestic production, which reflect competitive efficiency in rice international market. The study also indicates the excessive in government revenue at the second period for all study crops, meanwhile there was deficit in the foreign exchange for wheat and maize, this is due to the decreasing in the domestic supply and the increasing in domestic consumption in light of low domestic price relative to international price. While there has been a decline in foreign exchange loss for rice in second period to first period reached about 45% because of the closeness between domestic prices and international prices. The loss in producers surplus for wheat and maize increased because of increasing in cost to returns, meanwhile it showed a decrease in producer net loss in the second period to the first period 12% approximately for rice because of farm price increase to reach the international price, also consumer surplus obtained advantages in all study crops in the tow period of the study. The study showed that, impact of net economic loss was negative at the tow period of the study for wheat and maize with a decreasing rate reached about 43% for wheat and 55%for maize, in contrast the net economic loss was positive for rice with decreasing rate reached about 62% in the first period. The research concluded with the following recommendations: -       Implementing fair price policy in it domestic price relative to international price for the study crops. -       Reduction direct and indirect taxes imposed on producers in ratio of 6% for wheat and maize crops and with 7% for rice. -       Subsidy imported and essential goods producers to diminishing consumers and producers net loss, to diminishing producers' burdens borne, and to provide foreign exchange to the stat. The need to provide economical and political stable atmosphere to the success of developing and prices policies in developing countries.

This study was carried out during 2013 and 2014 seasons to examine the effect of soil addition of Calcium nitrate at 1.0 kg/tree, borax at 25 g/tree and /or spraying of chelated-Ca at 0.03% and chelated-B at 0.025% on growth, yield and fruit quality of Washington Navel orange trees. Varying sources and methods of application for both Calcium and boron had an announced effect on growth, leaf content of pigments and nutrients, yield and fruit quality .Using both calcium and boron via leaves was superiors than using both via soil and using chelated form of both nutrients was favorable than using calcium nitrate or borax for Ca and B, respectively. Using Ca and B via leaves in chelated forms at 0.03 and 0.025% respectively gave the best results comparing with using both together via soil. A pronounced effect on yield and fruit quality of Washington Navel orange trees was obtained with spraying chelated-Ca at 0.03% plus chelated-B at 0.025 % three times at growth start, just after fruit setting and three weeks later.