The area of reclaimed land in 2014/2015 contracted 14,500 feddans, down from 22,600 in 2012/2013, representing a decline of 35.9%, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS).
The agency stated in its annual bulletin issued on Sunday that the decline in reclaimed land is caused by the reduction of cooperative societies provisions of reclaimed land.
The area of reclaimed land by the private sector amounted to 9,600 feddans—equivalent to 66% of the total land reclaimed. Cooperative societies’ lands reach 2,500 feddans, about 17.4% of the total land area. The area of the General Authority for Rehabilitation Projects and Agricultural Development reclaimed the remaining 16.6%, about 2,400 feddans.
The total area of livestock projects, including dairy production, fattening, and breeding cattle and sheep, of reclaimed land reached 88 feddans in 2014/2015, compared to 106 feddans in the previous year, a decrease of 17%. CAPMAS attributed the decrease to the lower demand of companies to start livestock projects.
