Abstract: ________________________________________________________________________________________________
• Egyptian Journal of Agricultural Economics. Egyptian Association of Agricultural Economics. Vol.(25), No.(4B), Cairo, Egypt, December 2015.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Fishes, either from natural resources or cultured, are considered the safe haven for providing consumers with a cheaper source of healthy animal protein that can help them cover their body requirements. The research investigates the problem of unplanned transportation of fresh fish across Egypt, which causes inequality in consumers' access to, and affordability of obtaining fresh fish as a cheaper source of animal protein, the deficiency of which risks human health thus economic performance of the population.
Therefore, the research aimed to provide decision makers with two possible options regarding the optimum pattern of transporting domestic production of fresh fish from supply to demand Governorates. The research depended on applying the Transportation Model to fresh fish transported from source to demand Governorates under two scenarios, the first of which is the minimization of transportation distances, and the second is the minimization of transportation cost per ton.
Findings based on the first scenario indicate the following optimum distribution of fresh fish surplus between demand Governorates: - Port Said's total fish surplus, estimated at 164.789 thousand tons, is better allocated between Menia (44.9%), Assiut (31.5%), Sohag (21.1%), Ismailia (2.3%), and North Sinai (0.3%). - Suez Governorate's total fish surplus, estimated at 4.468 thousand tons, is better allocated between Qena (75.5%), and South Sinai (24.5%). - Dameitta's total fish surplus, estimated at 65.170 thousand tons, is better allocated between Giza (56.5%), and Dakahlia (43.5%). - Sharkia's entire surplus fish supply, estimated at 9.47 thousand tons, goes to Assiut Governorate. - Kafr El-Sheikh's total fish surplus, estimated at 557.697 thousand tons, is better allocated between ten Governorates: Cairo and Giza (41%), Qalyoubia (12.4%), Gharbia (12.1%), Menofia (9.3%), Beni Sweif (7.4 %), Sohag (6.2 %), Fayoum (4.8%), Alexandria (4.2%), and Qena (2.7%). - Behera's total fish surplus, estimated at 35.904 thousand tons, is better allocated between Alexandria (82%); and Matruh (18%). - As for Aswan's total fish surplus, estimated at 3.729 thousand tons, the model suggests allocating the entire quantity to Luxor Governorate. - Red Sea Governorate's total fish surplus, estimated at 24.742 thousand tons, is better allocated between Luxor (56.4 %), and Qena (43.6%). - There still exists unfilled demand estimated at 18.84 thousand tons, 90.4% of this total needs to be fulfilled in Qena; whereas 9.6% needs to be fulfilled in the New Valley.
Findings based on the second scenario indicate the following optimum distribution of fresh fish surplus between demand Governorates: - Port Said's fish surplus, estimated at 164.789 thousand tons, is better allocated between Great Cairo (97.5%), Ismailia (2.3%), and North Sinai (0.3%). - Suez Governorate's fish surplus, estimated at 4.468 thousand tons, is better allocated between Assiut (75.5%), and South Sinai (24.5%). - Dameitta’s entire fish surplus, estimated at 65.170 thousand tons, is better allocated to Giza. - Sharkia’s entire fish surplus, estimated at 9.47 thousand tons, is better allocated to Cairo. - Kafr El-Sheikh's fish surplus, estimated at 557.697 thousand tons, is better allocated between eleven Governorates, these are Alexandria (9.5%), Dakahlia (5.1%), Qalyoubia (12.4%), Gharbia (12.1%), Menofia (9.3%), Giza (5.4%), Beni Sweif (7.4 %), Fayoum (4.8 %), Menia (13.3%), Assiut (10.4%), and Sohag (10.5%). - Behera's fish surplus, estimated at 35.904 thousand tons, is better allocated between Sohag (31%); and Qena (69%). - Aswan's entire fish surplus, estimated at 3.729 thousand tons, is better allocated to Luxor. - Red Sea Governorate’s fish surplus, estimated at 24.742 thousand tons, is better allocated between Qena (43.6%); and Luxor (56.4%).
Three Governorates still suffer unfilled demand amounting to 18.84 thousand tons. Of this total, 56.1% needs to be fulfilled in Qena, 9.6% needs to be fulfilled in the New Valley, and 34.4% needs to be fulfilled in Matruh. The calculated total reduced cost of transporting fresh fish from surplus to demand Governorates amounted to LE 54906 under the first scenario; whilst amounted to LE 63750 under the second scenario, which is expected to have two main positive impacts. The first is the reduced market prices thus improved consumers’ access to fresh fish as a cheaper source of animal protein; whereas the second is the better quality thus health benefits of the transported fish.
Despite finding that optimum distribution of fresh fish based on minimized transportation cost saves more money, the research did not intend to recommend choosing this scenario over the other. Rather, it provides policy makers with two possible scenarios for optimizing the distribution of fresh fish to help them formulate appropriate polices regarding the infrastructure and logistics required for improving consumers’ access to and affordability of obtaining adequate amounts of animal protein. The difficulty of choosing between the two comes from the fact that fish transportation is mostly performed by private trucks, the owners of which decide which road to use based on security conditions.
Finally, the research recommended promoting the coordination between responsible authorities to establish an adequate fish transportation fleet and encourage the activation of Egyptian laws and legislations governing the fishing practices, as well as banning the disposal of different wastewater types in natural fisheries, and exploring the possibility of establishing a properly equipped marine and river transportation fleet as a shorter and faster mean of fish transportation between Governorates wherever applicable.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
|