Strategy options to improve gross margin in mixed crop-livestock farming system in Sohag Governorate, Egypt

الملخص EN

The objectives of this study were to describe the mixed crop-livestock production system among small farms in Sohag governorate, South Egypt and to investigate options for its improvement.

Three districts were randomly selected out of the eleven districts of the governorate, Jirjah, Sohag and Akhmim.

Data on 420 farmers (35 farmers within 4 villages within 3 districts) were collected during 2004-2005.

A linear programming LP model with four scenarios was tested to maximize gross margin (GM), the first assumes free choice among all studied variables of crops and livestock (base run (LP1)).

While, the second scenario (LP2) had a constraint on cropping pattern to meet farmer’s needs of basic food and feed crops and assuming free choice of number of each different animal types (local cattle, crossbred cattle buffalo, sheep and goat).

The third scenario (LP3) assumed free choice of cropping pattern and had a constraint to the number of each studied animal type.

The fourth scenario (LP4) had the cultivated area distributed equally on different crops and had a constraint to the number of each animal types.

Results suggested that, as compared to actual situation, GM was improved by about 48 % to 105 % in LP1 ; 19 % to 67 % in LP2 and 30 % to 72 % in LP3 and -0.3 % to 33 % in LP4 in different distracts.

As compared to LP1, GM in LP2 and LP3 decreased by about 29 to 38 % and 18 % to 33 %, respectively.

GM in LP3 increased by about 5 % to 11 % as compared to LP2.

In addition, GM in LP4 decreased by about 48 % to 72 % as compared to LP1.

It was concluded that small ruminants were more profitable than large ruminants within crop-livestock production system in Sohag governorate.

Both land and available cash resources are limiting constrains for LP model but not labor.