Wheat growers' (WGs)‎ practices to adapt with climate change in the nile delta (ND)‎ of Egypt

Abstract EN

Wheat growers in the ND of Egypt, are vulnerable to climate change, specifically hydro-climatic severe fluctuations and variability.

Phenomena such as heavy rain, drought and salt intrusion increasingly and negatively affect their crop production and productivity, with far-reaching socio-economic and environmental impacts.

Reliable hydro-climatic information service received in a timely manner could help farmers improve their responses to hydro-climatic variability, thus improving their agricultural decision-making.

This study aims to answer the following questions: What is the currently available technical package of Best-Fit Practices (BFPs)? What are the levels of application/ adoption of these BFPs among WGs in ND of Egypt? What are the relationships between the WGs' levels of application/ adoption and their characteristics? Study was conducted in 3 villages in Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate.

A sample of 278 WGs was personally interviewed, by using a questionnaire designed for data collection.

The most important results could be summarized as follows: - Farmers perceived hydro-climatic variability as high and the quality of available hydro-climatic information as poor.

They indicated a need for more accurate, time-specific, trusted and applicable information for improving agricultural decision-making.

It was conclude that there is high potential and need for hydro-climatic information services tailored for farmers in the study area.

- The results of factorial analysis showed that there were three main factors namely: a) Efficient Agricultural Production, b) Innovative and Trustworthy Information, and c) experience-based personal influence.

These three factors, together explain 52.34% of the total variance.