Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics Volume 6 Number 12 December 2014 ISSN 2006-9774 ABOUT JDAE The Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics (JDAE) (ISSN:2006-9774) is an open access journal that provides rapid publication (monthly) of articles in all areas of the subject such as The determinants of cassava productivity and price under the farmers’ collaboration with the emerging cassava processors, Economics of wetland rice production technology in the savannah region, Programming, efficiency and management of tobacco farms, review of the declining role of agriculture for economic diversity etc. The Journal welcomes the submission of manuscripts that meet the general criteria of significance and scientific excellence. Papers will be published shortly after acceptance. All articles published in JDAE are peer- reviewed. Contact Us Editorial Office: [email protected] Help Desk: [email protected] Website: http://www.academicjournals.org/journal/JDAE Submit manuscript online http://ms.academicjournals.me/ Editors Prof. Diego Begalli Prof. Mammo Mu chie University of Verona Tshwane University of Technology, Via della Pieve, 70 - 37029 Pretoria, South Africa and San Pietro in Cariano (Verona) Aalborg University, Italy. Denmark. Prof. S. Mohan Dr. Morolong Bantu Indian Institute of Technology Madras University of Botswana, Centre for Continuing Dept. of Civil Engineering, Education IIT Madras, Chennai - 600 036, Department of Extra Mural and Public Education India. Private Bag UB 00707 Gaborone, Botswana. Dr. Munir Ahmad Dr. Siddhartha Sarkar Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (HQ) Faculty, Dinhata College, Sector G-5/1, Islamabad, 250 Pandapara Colony, Jalpaiguri 735101,West Pakistan. Bengal, Ind ia. Dr. Wirat Krasachat Dr. Bamire Adebayo Simeon King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of 3 Moo 2, Chalongkrung Rd, Agriculture Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Obafemi Awolowo University Thailand. Nigeria. Editorial Board Dr. Edson Talamini Dr Ilhan Ozturk Federal University of Grande Dourados - UFGD Cag University, Faculty of Economics and Rodovia Dourados-Itahum, Km 12 Admistrative Sciences, Cidade Universitária - Dourados, MS - Adana - Mersin karayolu uzeri, Mersin, 33800, Brazil . TURKEY. Dr. Okoye, Benjamin Chukwuemeka Dr. Gbadebo Olusegun Abidemi Odu laru Nation al Root Crops Research Institute, Regional Policies and Markets Analyst, Forum for Umudike. P.M.B.7006, Umuahia, Abia State. Agricultural Research in Nigeria. Africa (FARA), 2 Gowa Close, Roman Ridge, PMB CT 173, Cantonments, Dr. Obayelu Abiodun Elijah Accra - Ghana. Quo Vadis Chamber No.1 Lajorin Road, Sabo - Oke P.O. Box 4824, Ilorin Dr. Vo Quang Minh Nigeria. Cantho University 3/2 Street, Ninh kieu district, Cantho City, Dr. Murat Yercan Vietnam. Associate professor at the Department of Agricultural Economics, Ege University in Izmir/ Dr. Hasan A. Faruq Turkey. Department of Economics Williams College of Business Dr. Jesiah Selvam Xavier University Cincinnati, OH 45207 Indian Academy School of Management USA. Studies(IASMS) (Affiliated to Bangalore University and Approved By Dr. T. S. Devaraja AICTE) Department of Commerce and Management, Post Hennur Cross, Hennur Main Raod, Kalyan Nagar PO Graduate Centre, Bangalore-560 043 University of Mysore, Hemagangothri Campus, Ind ia. Hassan- 573220, Karnataka State, Ind ia. Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics Table of Contents: Volume 6 Number 12 December 2014 ARTICLES Research Articles Economic optimal allocation of irrigation water in Egypt 472 Dawoud, Seham D. Z. Prioritization and cost and returns analyses of selected non-timber forest products in Yobe State, Nigeria 481 Tee N. Terver, Orsar J. Tyonzughul and Bugh J. Aondoaseer Economic analysis of factors influencing adoption of motor pumps in Ethiopia 490 Gebrehaweria Gebregziabher, Meredith A. Giordano, Simon Langan J. and Regassa E. Namara Vol. 6(12), pp. 472-480, December, 2014 DOI: 10.5897/JDAE2014.0609 Article Number: C9477E548600 Journal of Development and Agricultural ISSN 2006-9774 Copyright ©2014 Economics Author(s) retain the copyright of this article http://www.academicjournals.org/JDAE Full Length Research Paper Economic optimal allocation of irrigation water in Egypt Dawoud, Seham D. Z. Department of Agricultural Economics, Faculty of Agriculture, Damietta University, Egypt. Received 2 October, 2014; Accepted 3 November, 2014 The water scarcity problem is globally getting worse especially in the light of increase in water demand among its competing uses. Thus, it is an important to optimize the water allocation to crops. In this paper, a linear programming model has been formulated to ensure the efficient allocation of scarce water resources among the competing crops. This model was constrained by land, water, labour, production costs, and organization constraints, determining the optimal plan for two possible future scenarios. The mathematical analysis was based on statistical data for the years (2009-2011) from the official statistical institutions in Egypt. The results of the two scenarios are as follows: Under the maximization of the net return per unit of land, there is an increase in total net returns by 3.56% more than the actual net returns. The optimized cropping pattern has been coupled with about 3.24% water saving and about 3.13% reduction in production costs compared to actual cropping pattern. However, under the minimization of irrigation water requirements, the total net returns decreased by 10.20% indicating losses below the actual situation. It has resulted in about 11.05% water saving and 11.24% reduction in the costs of production compared to the existing situation. These results can be used as a reference for indicative cropping pattern and irrigation water management in Egypt. Key words: Linear programming, efficient water allocation, optimal cropping pattern, water management. INTRODUCTION Water is one of the most important natural resources for following agreement between Egypt and Sudan in 1959. the world’s economic development. In many areas Water demand is increasing as a result of the rapid around the world, conflicts have risen due to increase in population growth, agricultural expansion, as well as water demand among its competing uses (World Bank, industrial development, and higher standards of living. 2002; Young, 2005). Particularly, agriculture is becoming This increase in demand for the limited water resources the sector to which policy makers are pointing out as the puts pressure on the decision-makers to formulate core of the water problem (Koundouri et al., 2006). This is policies to improve the allocation of the scarce water clearly the case in Egypt, where water resources are resources. Because agriculture is the major water limited to the Nile water. It is the major source of fresh consumer in Egypt, it will be important to ensure efficient water, supplying 96% of renewable fresh water allocation of irrigation water resources. resources. Egypt relies on the availability of its annual Linear Programming LP is a widely used mathematical share of Nile water, which is stored in Lake Nasser. This modelling technique to determine the optimum allocation is approximately 55.5 billion cubic meters annually of scarce resources among competing demands. Some E-mail: [email protected] Author(s) agree that this article remain permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International License Dawoud 473 examples are presented. Kheper and Chaturvedi (1982) explicit and efficient optimum seeking procedure is provided, results applied a linear programming model to make decisions from changing variables can easily be calculated once formulated about options of groundwater management in conjunction (Hazell and Norton, 1986). Therefore, linear programming is used to make decisions ensuring optimal allocation of water. with optimal cropping pattern and production functions of The currently most used algorithm in Linear Programming LP water. Panda et al. (1983) applied linear programming software is the Simplex Method which was developed during the models for conjunctive use of surface and groundwater to Second War in 1974 by a Northern American scientist staff, and canal command area of Punjab by adopting an optimal has been published afterwards. However, breakthrough in terms of cropping. Further, to resolve the complex problem of correlated algorithms efficiency only could be observed in the 1980 through developed studies. Nowadays, LP is broadly used around irrigation management within a large heterogeneous the world and can be applied for different objectives such as basin, Paudyal and Gupta (1990) applied a multilevel maximize net income or minimize costs, losses etc. The General optimization technique. They determined the optimal Algebraic Modelling System (GAMS) modelling language is used to cropping patterns in various sub-areas of the basin, the calculate the optimal solutions (Brooke et al., 1998). It is preferred optimal design capacities of irrigation facilities, including for this study because of its flexibility, and it is easy to apply for surface and groundwater resources, and the optimal modellers familiar with such language. The objectives of the model tries to achieve are related to allocation policies of water for conjunctive use. Mainuddin maximizing the net return and/or minimizing the use of water et al. (1997) used an LP model to determine the cropping resources.