Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Graduate Studies and Environmental Research, Ain Shams University
2
Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University
3
Faculty of Mass Communication, Ain Shams University
Abstract
Date palm cultivation plays a pivotal role in achieving environmental sustainability, contributing to combating desertification, stabilizing soil, and providing an agricultural environment that supports biodiversity. Palm waste is also a valuable environmental resource that can be invested in various industries, such as animal feed, bioenergy, and handicrafts, promoting a circular economy and reducing the negative environmental impact of agricultural waste. Egyptian date exports have witnessed remarkable growth in recent years, particularly as the country seeks to open new markets in Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Several government initiatives have been launched, such as the Date Value Chain Development Project and the Farmer Support Program, which aims to improve production quality and enhance packaging standards in line with international specifications. However, the export sector faces challenges related to the quality of some varieties, traditional harvesting methods, and the need for further innovation in international marketing. Although Egypt possesses distinct natural and economic potential for producing high-quality dates with a variety of varieties, external demand does not reflect the true potential of this sector. The study of external demand functions also revealed that the price elasticity of demand was less than one in the Moroccan, Indonesian, Bangladeshi, and Emirati markets, making Egyptian dates a necessary commodity for these countries. The price elasticity was greater than one in the Turkish and Malaysian markets, indicating that it is an elastic good, and therefore Egyptian dates are considered a luxury commodity for both Turkey and Malaysia. The elasticity of domestic demand was greater than one in all markets, indicating more elastic demand and that Egyptian date exports are influenced by national income in the Moroccan, Indonesian, Malaysian, Bangladeshi, and Emirati markets. The most significant environmental issues were water scarcity, climate change, the spread of agricultural pests, desertification, soil degradation, and the excessive use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Egyptian dates are considered among the finest dates in the world, and Egypt ranks first in their production. Despite this massive production, the strong presence of Egyptian dates in global markets still needs to be developed. The role of the media is a strategic tool to promote this product in foreign markets. (Challenges in promoting Egyptian dates include weak media campaigns targeting foreign markets, limited global awareness of Egyptian dates, and poor media coordination among relevant stakeholders).
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