Egypt leads global rice production with climate-resilient and water-efficient varieties

Egypt Today

13-03-2025

CAIRO - 12 March 2025: Rice remains one of the world's most essential food crops, feeding billions of people. Over time, rice farming has evolved from traditional manual methods to modern, technology-driven agriculture. Egypt has emerged as a leader in global rice production, thanks to groundbreaking research by the Agricultural Research Center (ARC).
Dr. Hamdy El-Mowafi, Head of the National Hybrid Rice Development Project, highlighted Egypt's achievements in rice farming, attributing them to scientific advancements. New rice varieties developed by Egyptian researchers now require significantly less water—between 5,000 to 6,000 cubic meters per season, compared to the traditional 8,000 to 9,000 cubic meters.
These high-yield varieties also have shorter growth cycles, such as Giza 175, which matures in just 120 days, enhancing efficiency while conserving resources. While older varieties produced 2.4 tons per feddan, the new hybrids yield up to 4 tons per feddan.
Egypt's Field Crops Research Institute, a division of the ARC, plays a vital role in rice farming advancements. Its key objectives include:
Developing short-lifespan, high-yield, and water-efficient rice hybrids
Enhancing resistance to diseases and environmental stress
Providing scientific recommendations to farmers based on regional conditions
Ensuring food security while conserving natural resources
Rice farming in Egypt dates back to 1812, when Mohamed Ali Pasha introduced the crop on 4,500 feddans, yielding 600 kg per feddan. Research on rice improvement began in 1917, but the real breakthrough came in 1987 with the establishment of the Rice Research Center in Sakha, Kafr El-Sheikh. This center brought together experts in crop protection, pest control, and agricultural innovation, paving the way for Egypt's dominance in rice production.
By the late 1980s and early 1990s, rice cultivation in Egypt expanded to over 2 million feddans, but yields remained at 2.4 tons per feddan. However, from the mid-1990s, new research-driven approaches introduced short-season, high-yield rice varieties, reducing growth cycles from 160 days to just 115-120 days while boosting yields to 4 tons per feddan.
Beyond boosting productivity, Egypt's rice farming innovations align with national water conservation goals. Thanks to the new hybrid varieties and optimized farming techniques, water consumption has dropped from 8,500 cubic meters to 5,000 cubic meters per season. Rice farming also plays a vital environmental role, protecting northern agricultural lands from seawater intrusion and preserving soil fertility.
Egypt's commitment to agricultural research continues to drive rice production forward. The development of high-yield, climate-resilient varieties, such as Giza 177 (Japanese) and Giza 178 (Indo-Japanese), has paved the way for 16-17 new commercial rice strains. With ongoing advancements, Egypt is strengthening its position as a global leader in sustainable rice production, ensuring food security while adapting to climate challenges.