Early Harvests of Fruits and Crops in Egypt

Early Harvests of Fruits and Crops in Egypt

 Due to climate change, crops and fruits appear early in Egypt.

Some fruits, such as watermelons, grapes, peaches, strawberries, and others, were supposed to appear in early July and August, but they have now appeared in the markets. Climate change in Egypt has caused the early harvest of several crops, especially fruits, and their spread to markets at an unseasonable time, surprising citizens.

Citizens wondered about the reason for the early appearance of some fruits, such as watermelons, grapes, peaches, strawberries, and others. They were supposed to appear in early July and August, but they have now appeared, and were available in stores, markets, and with vendors alongside winter fruits.

Hussein Abdel Rahman, head of the Farmers Syndicate in Egypt, "Climate change in Egypt is behind this. There are varieties that are planted three months ahead of their scheduled dates, using new methods such as tunnel farming, to control the climate the crop needs. There are also greenhouses whose climate and temperature are controlled, which results in crops arriving on the market before the usual date."

Abdel Rahman explained that there are seeds of varieties that are resistant to climate change and help produce early or larger-than-usual yields. Furthermore, studies indicate that early planting of some crops results in significant profits for their owners when they sell them. Farmers grow these crops and sell them to reap significant profits.

He said that these crops have not affected citizens' health because the state monitors them regularly, and if the use of harmful substances during planting is discovered, immediate reports are issued against violators.

For his part, Dr. Saeed Suleiman, Professor of Genetics at the Faculty of Agriculture at Zagazig University, confirmed to Al Arabiya.net and Al Hadath.net that there has been significant development in agriculture, and that there are now methods other than the old ones that help us benefit from crops after climate change. However, some crops are affected by this change, such as wheat, which requires cold temperatures. Due to the high temperatures in Egypt, it is necessary to have wheat varieties that are heat-resistant.

He explained that crops that appeared on the market early were grown using new methods, for example, in "protected greenhouses," to combat climate change. He also explained that certain seeds have been imported from abroad. He emphasized that "it is possible to take advantage of climate change and rising temperatures by planting two full seasons of a single crop, such as rice, which requires high temperatures. It is also possible to grow corn and harvest it twice, as winter has become shorter in Egypt."