الفهرس 
مقدمهOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
 |  | from | 207 |  |  |
| | | from | 207 | | |
Abstract
Fiber crops are of great importance for both national
and international economy, as they are the main source for
producing raw materials necessary for spinning, weaving and
oil oroducts industries.
The most important fiber crops in A.R.E. are cotton,
flax and kenaf.
Cotton is the main crop in Egypt. It forms an important
part of its national income and a main source of foreign currency.
In 1965, the value of cotton products was about
19.7 % of the current value of the agricultural production,
about 26.5 % of the current value of all agricultural crops.
Studies revealed that these figures have started decreasing
through the period of study (1965-1987). In 1987, the current
value of cotton was about 4.16 % of the current value
of agricultural production, about 6.34 % of the current
value of plant production and about 10.53 % of the current
value of agricultural crops.
Flax has the second importance after cotton. It is
used in various for and different industries. Its current
value has increased during the period of study ( 1965-1987),
it was about 0.11 % of the current value of the agricultural
production in 1987, about 0.16 % of plant production and
about 0.27 % of the current value of agricultural crops.
Data about kenaf are rather limited. Recently; its
importance has increased because it may partially replace
jute in the packing industry.
The first part of this study concerns the relative
aituation of Egyptian fiber crops as compared to foreign
varieties. The study showed that Egyptian cotton is the
main source which provides long staple cotton in the world,
specially the extra grade though its production did not
exceed 3.8 % of the world production in 1980-1981. Now
this ratio does not exceed 2 %. Some competition started
now from some countries such as the Sudan, Peru, India,
U.S.S.R. and U.S.A.
Flax comes after cotton in its economic importance
allover the world. Egypt cultivates about 16 thousand
hectares. The Egyptian production of flax fibers in 1980
was about 6 % of the world production and decreased to about
2.5 % in 1988. Egypt is characterized by the high productivity
of flax fibers. In 1986, it was about 923 kg/hectare
while the universal productivity was about 589 kg/hectare.
The Egyptian exports of flax fibers was about 4.1 % of the
total world exports.
The study of cotton production within the period (1972/
73-1987/88) showed that the world production of cotton
increases about 1184.4 thousand of bales yearly. China is
the highest producing country, while Egypt is the 8th cotton
producing country. It represents about 3 % of the world
production within the period of study. Egypt’s production
of cotton decreases about 19.4 thousand bales yearly during
the same period.
The study of extra long staple cottons in the world
during the period (1972/73-1986/87) showed that the world
production increases about 83.8 thousand bales yearly.
Egypt is considered one of the most important producing
countries of these cottons, its production is about 26.3 %
of the whole world production, but it decreases about 26.6
thousand bales yearly. It is clear from the study that
the world production of long staple cottons increases, in
the same period, about 455 thousand bales yearly, in the
same time Egypt’s production of these types increased about
16 thousand bales yearly. The study showed that the world
consumption increases steadily in spite of the competition
of industrial fibers. The world consumption of cottons has
generally increased about 1470 thousand bales yearly, also
Egypt’s consumption of cottons has increased about 25
thousand bales yearly. This may be due to over population
and raising of the standard of living.
The relation between the world consumption of cotton
and the industrial fibers as a whole and cellulose and noncellulose
industrial fibers during the period (1975-1987)
showed that the calculated correlation coefficients are
about 0.78, -0.55 and 0.64, respectively. The positive
relation between the world consumption of cotton and both
industrial fibers as a whole and non-cellulose industrial
fibers is due to the over-consumption of both of them. The
study showed a competitional relation between the world
consumption of cotton and cellulose industrial fibers with
a correlation coefficient of about -0.55
The second part of this study, is dealing with the
physical factors controlling the production of fiber crops
in Egypt. The production depends on the average feddan
productivity and the cultivated area. The ministry of agriculture
determine, each year, the cultivated area according
to a general economical plan.
The study showed that the cultivated area of cotton as
a whole tends to decrease while there is a relative constancy
of the feddan productivity. Consequently, the production of
cotton is decreasing.
The production of extra long staple cottons is about 25 %
of the whole production, while the long-staple cottons is
about 75 %. The cultivated area of extra long-staple cottons
has decreased about 29 thousand feddans yearly during the
period (1970-1988), while the area of long-staple cottons
has increased about 23 thousand feddans and the area of
short cottons has decreased about 28 thousand feddans yearly.
This was responsible for an annual decrease of extra longstaple
cottons by about 128 thousand kentars and increase
in the long-staple cotton by about 164 thousand kentars,
although there is an increase in the productivity of both
extra long and long-staple cottons by about 0.09 and 0.03
kentar/feddan yearly, respectively.
Analysis of variance among governorates for the cultivated
area with cotton during the period (1982-1987) showed
some significant differences, also in productivity.
Some new varieties of cotton have been introduced for
cultivation in Egypt such as the American Macknir cotton (220)
in Sohag in 1984. It remains in land for 4.5 months. Its
productivity is about 11.44 kentar/feddan. Care should be
taken for not mixing this new variety with the other Egyptian
cottons.
As for flax, it is mainly cultivated in Delta where
there is about 96 % of its cultivated area in Egypt. The
study showed some fluctuation in flax area from year to
year. During the period (1970-1987), it ranged from 68.5
thousand feddans and 32.3 thousand feddans. The cultivated
area in the period (1967-1987) showed annual increase of
about 1477 feddans, and increase in the productivity of
flax straw by about 0.033 ton/feddan.
Egypt is the only country in Africa which cultivates
flax. Its production represents about 2.92 % of the world
production. It is the third country in the productivity
of flax straw as it is about 910 kg/hectare.
Kenaf is cultivated in Egypt around the fields of
cotton. The study showed that the cultivated kenaf area
has increased during the period (1965-1984) by about 190
feddans yearly. Jute is not cultivated in Egypt in spite
of its importance in packing industry.
The third part of study is concerned with the economical
factors limiting the production of fiber crops in Egypt and
their production expenses. It showed an increase in production
expenses of cotton by about 490 % and flax by about
438 % during the period of study. The important internal
factors effecting cotton prices in Egypt are the amount of
’production, the amount of each kind and the consumption of
cotton. The most important external factors are the amount
of world production, the stored quantity and the competition
with other fibers.
The fourth part of study is concerned with the study
of external trade for fiber crops in Egypt. Egypt is the
fifth country that exports cottons during 1972/73 and the
second exporting country for the extra long-staple cottons.
Egypt exports about two-thirds of its production of flax
fibers. The export of both raw and manufactured cotton
financed about 20 % of the whole imports value in 1975,
this ratio has decreased to about 9.3 % in 1987. It was
possible to study the effect of governmental interference
in the agricultural policy of prices.