Building water resilience: Salt-resistant crops secure the future of smallholder farmers in Egypt’s Nile Delta

The following case study is part of a set that illustrate the Food Systems Call to Action in motion. Each story demonstrates innovative solutions and collaborative efforts across sectors, geographies, and communities, highlighting how food systems are being transformed.

Context: Strengthening water resilience and promoting salt-resistant crops are vital for sustaining agriculture, enhancing food security, and improving livelihoods in regions like Egypt’s Nile Delta, where climate change is increasing soil salinity and water scarcity.

Partners: Arab Network for Environment and Development (RAED), Egyptian Center of Excellence for Saline Agriculture of the Desert Research Centre, Al Nahda Association for Agricultural Development and Water Management in Sidi Salem, Small Grants Program (SGP) of the Global Environment Fund (GEF).

Duration: 2 years

Location: Sidi Salem, Kafr El Sheikh Governorate, Nile Delta, Egypt

Impact Achieved:

• Trained 366 smallholder farmers in cultivating salt-tolerant crops and utilizing new irrigation techniques.

• Developed 8 new salt-resistant crops including wheat, barley, millet, and animal feed crops.

• Trained approximately 100 rural women in food production from new crops and dairy processing, leading to the establishment of small income-generating projects.

• Trained 45 agricultural extension agents on sustainable agricultural practices.

• Restored and improved agricultural productivity on roughly 200 hectares of degraded land.

• Improved the livelihoods and incomes of local farmers by enhancing the quality and quantity of their crop yields.

Description:
The project aimed to address the impacts of climate change, particularly soil salinity and waterlogging, on agriculture in Egypt's Nile Delta. By fostering a community-led approach, the initiative focused on the development and cultivation of salt-resistant crops to ensure food security and enhance the resilience of smallholder farmers. Key activities included training farmers on sustainable agricultural practices, cultivating non-traditional, salt-tolerant crops, and improving water management techniques. The project also placed a strong emphasis on capacity building among rural women, empowering them through skill development in agricultural processing and food production. The collaborative effort helped mitigate the adverse effects of soil salinity on agricultural productivity while promoting sustainable farming practices and bolstering local economies.

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The Food Systems Call to Action is a global initiative that urges non-state actors and governments to take immediate steps to transform food systems by 2030. It highlights the urgent need for resilient, sustainable, and equitable approaches that support food security, protect nature, and address climate change. Through targeted actions and principles, the Call to Action emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity—ensuring that farmers, frontline workers, Indigenous communities, and other key players are at the forefront of decision-making and implementation.