Desert Dynamic

IRRD - The Course

Once again, the annual practical stage of the Postgraduate Course on Integrated Rural Regional Development Planning was conducted in a developing region, this time in Egypt. The aim of the course is to train professionals from developing countries who are involved in the various disciplines associated with national development, in planning and implementation of Integrated Rural Regional Development projects in less developed areas in their own countries.

This course, under the auspices of MASHAV, the Centre for International Cooperation of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is the longest, the most intense and unique in its integration of both theoretical studies conducted in Israel and a practical planning exercise held in various regions of developing countries and countries in transition. This year the practical stage was held in our neighbouring country, Egypt, in the Nubaria region along the Cairo-Alexandria road. The seven-month course commenced in Israel in August 1997, comprising 36 professionals, from 20 countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, who participated in the course in Israel and then took part in the practical stage planning process under the guidance of a team of experts from the DSC in Egypt between January and March 1998.

Speaking for myself, though I have no doubt that I express the sentiments of all participants, I felt lucky that this chance to travel and plan in Egypt came our way.

Nubaria - Background
Egypt is essentially a large desert. Approximately 96% of its total land area is arid desert. Only 4% is cultivated land. 98% of the total population, estimated at over 60 million, live and work in the Nile Valley region. With population growing at 2.5% annually, reclaiming desert land for agriculture, increasing food production and providing gainful employment for university graduates are some of the main goals of the government.

The Nubaria Scheme is part of the Mubarak National Project that covers all of Egypt. This is a very ambitious project designed to irrigate large tracts of desert land, cultivate and settle previously uninhabitable areas. The heart of the project is an extensive network of irrigation canals that has recently been constructed, transporting water from the Nile River and the fertile Nile Delta to the arid desert areas.

The objectives of the Nubaria Scheme are to create new employment opportunities for the many university graduates residing in the congested cities, to expand cultivable land by reclaiming desert land, increasing agricultural output for domestic consumption and export and the creation of new and dynamic communities. The project started in 1981 and has so far resettled 26,600 graduates and their families (106,000 inhabitants) in 77 villages, utilizing 190,000 feddans (approximately 9,000 hectares) of reclaimed desert land.

Under this new approach, university graduates (in agriculture or other disciplines) are allocated 5 feddans (1 feddan=1.038 acres) of agricultural land including infrastructure and drip or sprinkler irrigation, a low cost house and a small backyard. The land, agricultural equipment and house are provided at substantially subsidized costs. Training, credit, grants and an initial monthly allowance are also provided. Services such as health, education and agricultural extension are available at no cost to the settlers. If this settlement pattern reminds one of the moshav type village in Israel, it is no coincidence.

Israel and Egypt have been cooperating in the Nubaria Region for the past 15 years, under bilateral and trilateral arrangements. The focus of cooperation has been in the field of R&D and development of agricultural programs for arid ecosystems. Previous joint Egyptian Israeli activities for the area included both agricultural planning and on-the-spot courses conducted by CINADCO (the Centre for International Agricultural Development Cooperation) as well as training programs in the DSC.

We Travel to Egypt
Within this framework, the international group of professionals (the course participants) and the Israeli DSC experts and instructors, Gabriel Bechar and myself, took upon ourselves to plan and propose development activities in the newer subdivisions of the project area. The rationale being that the tools and techniques acquired by the course participants in the DSC in Israel, coupled with their own extensive experience in development planning in their own countries, would give birth to synergetic ideas that may benefit the area.

The initial terms of reference of the exercise, formulated in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation in Egypt (the main initiating, planning and implementing agency of the Mobarak Project and the hosts of the practical stage), was twofold. The first was to examine and study the results of the new settlement scheme in one of the more established areas. The second was to apply the conclusions of this initial analysis in order to plan and propose development activities for one of the new zones.

Accordingly, the first days of our six-week stay in the area was devoted to field trips to the villages, interviews with farmers, university graduates and with the project managers, planners and officials. These were conducted in the Banger Sukker zone, an area that was settled ten years ago. Hence, relevant conclusions could be derived and proposals for improvement formulated. The suggestions and recommendations were designed and directed towards "Branch 20," a new six-village development area that is currently in the process of habitation. This project area is part of an ongoing trilateral planning initiative of Egypt, the United States and Israel.

Our Recommendations
The group recommended two main priority areas for development. The first in the agricultural sector, included proposals for improved farm types, which, using the current land, water and investment capabilities, will ensure an adequate family income to the settlers. The planning team formulated four different model farm types, or mix of agricultural activities per farm. Each type is based on the amount of land (5 feddans), available water and potential credit obtainable to the farmer. One model is based mainly on field crops, wheat, beans and potatoes, the second specializes in dairy cattle and fodder, the third focuses on greenhouses and the fourth in orchards, apples and citrus. All of the farm types are profitable and viable. The models differ in respect to the amount of investment, labor and specialization required. A detailed financial analysis of the farm type models was conducted, comparing and analyzing the benefits costs, and annual income per family of each. Each farmer or agricultural extension agent can now select the model that best suits his capabilities and needs, and plan his investments, land use and annual cropping cycle accordingly. During the plan formulation stage, four additional experts arrived from Israel, on behalf of CINADCO. Each of them specializing in specific agricultural activities (poultry, dairy, greenhouses or water), they advised the group on the best technological solutions to be recommended in the area, based on the Israeli experience in similar climatic conditions.

The second priority thrust for development that the team of participants looked at was the non-agricultural sector. The meetings between farmers and graduates revealed the necessity for developing the industrial and business subsectors in order to augment farm income, diversify the economic base and realize the settlers career aspirations. New economic ventures frequently fail, especially in the initial period, due to factors beyond the control of the entrepreneur. Lack of capital, no access to information, bureaucracy, marketing obstacles and insufficient skills and training are a few of the factors. In order to overcome these obstacles, a suitable environment promoting entrepreneurship should be created. Attracting entrepreneurs, business people and small-scale industries, assisting, supporting and guiding them in growth and development was deemed critical, by the team, for further economic expansion in the area.

The group deliberated on potential and practicable options and concluded that an Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) combining consultancy and entrepreneurship promotion, business incubators, an industrial park and a credit unit could bring about significant development of small- and medium-sized businesses, increase employment and income.

During the EDC project formulation, the real advantage of conducting an international multi-disciplinary course was once again apparent. Participants from different countries and with diverse educational and professional backgrounds drew upon their own experiences and past successes. The participants were also inspired and influenced by the MATI units (Centres for Entrepreneurship Promotion) that they visited during their stay in Israel. The combined ideas brought about original, inventive and productive concepts.

The eventual recommendation was for the establishment of an Enterprise Development Unit that would consist of four main components: 1) a consultancy, training and information unit that would advise and support the farmers-cum-entrepreneurs in their initial entry into the business realm; 2) a business "incubator," which is the physical facility (building) provided at subsidized rates (the incubator allows the small businesses to invest less in fixed capital and shelters the entrepreneur in a favourable, secure environment in the first critical years); 3) an industrial park with the required infrastructure for both external investors as well as local establishments; 4) a credit unit that would help, advise and consult the new entrepreneur on the availability and sources of credit and loans.

An additional scheme proposed was the establishment of a computerized data base and information unit. This was the result of some difficulties encountered by the group during the data collection stage. Unavailability of data and its dispersion among scattered government agencies convinced the group of the indispensability of this type of system. Setting up such a unit in the area would provide a systematic, comprehensive, relevant and up-to-date data/information for easy access and use by participating agencies, decision makers, planners and other professionals for planning and development activities. The proposal itemized and detailed the type of information that would have to be collected, as well as defining the configuration of the hardware and software required. Both the Economic Development Unit and the Data Base and Information Unit are designed to utilize existing infrastructure, building space and personnel, thus minimizing expenditures and increasing the likelihood of implementation.

We Say Shalom - Salaam
Six weeks after beginning the practical exercise in Egypt and almost seven months after the beginning of the course in the Development Study Centre in Israel, the time came to conclude the plan and the course. The participants, who in the first days of the course in Israel were but a collection of individual professionals from various countries and diverse backgrounds, were now a cohesive planning team, working in concert under the supervision of the Israeli DSC experts/instructors. The professional compatibility and rapport attained by the group was only the outer and apparent expression of the friendships and camaraderie that evolved and deepened during the course. Seven months of intensive studies, training, field trips and social interaction in two countries bring together even the most shy and bashful. Mutual respect flowered during this period.

Alas, as the cliche goes, all good things come to an end. On March 3, the participants themselves conducted the presentation of the plan. The design outline was presented to the senior officials and directors directly responsible for development in the new settlement areas in Egypt. Pertinent comments and questions were put forward by the officials and carefully considered by the group. The Egyptian development planners and officials were assured that the final report would be drafted by the DSC experts in Israel and forwarded to the relevant agencies. The following day was devoted to the formal closing of the course. This dignified and ceremonial event was hosted and chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture of Egypt Dr. Yussuf Wali. Deputy Director of the Israeli Foreign Ministry and Head of MASHAV Haim Divon and Israeli Ambassador to Cairo Zvi Mazel attended the ceremony, as did diplomatic representatives of the participating countries. The diplomas were presented to the graduating trainees, and Michael Gorelik, the team leader (and author), acknowledged and thanked all supporting bodies and persons which contributed to the success of the practical stage.

It was a bittersweet afternoon for all of us. Sweet was the anticipation of returning home to family, friends and loved ones after such a long separation. Sad was the imminent separation from friends, companions and colleagues who shared with us seven months of our lives. Promises of everlasting memories mingled with tearful farewells. And to all I extend this greeting, in Arabic: Al Salamu Aleikum, U Rahmat Ul a, Ubarakatu... Goodbye, peace be with you and God bless.