THE ROLE OF LIVESTOCK SECTOR IN POVERTY REDUCTION IN EGYPTIAN RURAL

Abstract

The livestock sector is a vital sector in the Egyptian agricultural economy. It contributed about 35% of the total agricultural income, which estimated of about million 252 LE during the period 2010-2013. The category of small farmers (holders of Less than three Fadden) is the dominant category in the structure of the Egyptian agriculture. According to agricultural census data in 2010 the category of small farmers included about 4 million holdings of the agricultural land in Egypt, represented about 84% of the total number of holdings in Egypt the area of these holdings estimated of about 3.4 million Fadden, represented about 38% of the total agricultural area in Egypt (more than one third of the total agricultural area in Egypt). Moreover, the majority of agricultural animal holdings is concentrated in the pre-mentioned category and represented a main source of its income. Therefore, solving the problems of livestock sector in general and small farmers in particular, will help through for achieving the sustainable agricultural development through increasing the income of small farmers and reducing the rural poverty.