AN ECONOMIC STUDY OF CURRENT POSITION OF COTTON CROP IN GHARBIA GOVERNORATE

Abstract

he cotton crop stayed for many decades one of the most important strategic crops in Egypt Generally, and in Gharbia Governorate especially, besides being one of the sources of foreign currency, but it has been noted recently the cultivated areas of cotton is declining by 61% than it was the season of 1991, the total production has also declined by about 73% from what it was in the same season, cotton exports declined by about 80% than the 2001 year at the level of the Republic, as in Gharbia Governorate, the cultivated area of cotton declined by about 94% from what it was the season of 1991, the total production has decreased by about 93% from what it was in the same season. The focus of the research problem in the reluctance of farmers for the cultivation of cotton in Egypt generally, and in Gharbia Governorate especially and decreasing the cultivated area, and decline in the total production OF cotton in Governorate. The study showed the cultivated cotton area in Gharbia is decreasing at an annual rate of about 10% during the search period, at the level of 0.01, As the decrease in total production volume at an annual rate of about 9% during the same period, at the same level and the average productivity per feddan in the first category reached about 7.19 kentar and about 7.75 kentar in the second category in sample research. The study showed that the most important factors affecting the production in first category in function are the amount of human labor and quantity of seeds, the Function was significant statistically at 0.01 and agree with the economic logic where the total elasticity in function reached about 0.74, and the efficiency of production components, human labor, and a quantity of seeds, where the marginal value reached about 102.5 pounds /manday, and 232.5 pounds /kg respectively, where the price of these elements reached about 42.19 pounds/man-day , 5.39 pounds/kg , where the value of the marginal product of them higher than the price of two elements, So, there are an economic efficiency for these elements The second category it proved the existence of a relationship between the amount of cotton production and independent factors are: the quantity of seeds, and the mechanical labor irrigation at the level of 0.01 where the total elasticity reached about 0.60 , Also, It has proved an economic efficiency to these elements of the function . The research showed from the study of a function of the supply response of cultivated area of cotton, there is an opposite relationship between the area and net return of cotton crop in the previous year, whereas the inverse relationship between the area of cotton and net return of clover feddan in the previous year. Also, there is an inverse relationship between the area of cotton and the net return of maize crop in the previous year, The study showed from the function of supply response of cotton crop, there is necessary response period to the farmer about 2.1 years.