The Impact Of Losses On Agricultural Economic Resources And Food Security Of Rice Crop (Experimental Guide From Egypt)

This study examines the economic implications of rice crop losses in Egypt and their impact on agricultural economic resources and food security from 2000 to 2022. It analyzes the current state of food security for the rice crop and the extent to which losses affect the food security coefficient. The research employs economic equations to estimate losses in agricultural economic resources and assess the food security coefficient, supplemented by multiple regression analysis using the Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) method. Findings indicate that Egypt’s strategic rice stock averaged approximately 15.22 million tons during the study period, with a food security coefficient of 0.31. A 10% increase in rice crop losses leads to a 15.5% decline in the food security coefficient, demonstrating a significant negative impact. Moreover, increased losses reduce the net yield per feddan and the quantity of rice exports, allowing other exporters to gain market share while contributing to surplus stock and further losses due to inadequate storage. The study recommends mitigating food waste and its adverse effects on food security by enhancing post-harvest technologies, improving transportation and storage infrastructure, expanding grain silo construction across different governorates, and repurposing food waste as animal feed when unfit for human consumption