![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EPUUHJWANFO3BKO3T5EKEWB5A4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e8e3c80b04b036ce098e71c3c5e5524b00b24d4a7722b2f8c10104b59b5026a2&width=400&height=225)
A farmer is joined by egrets while planting rice seedlings in Tanta.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KA6YS2RAXWLRCPW4SMHOOMKN7U.jpg?smart=true&auth=9c48a2223cccfb2d6b0e2cf2a20465f77d783354a34c6c72c93804b9f4278db7&width=400&height=225)
Farmers plant rice seedlings in Egypt's fertile Nile Delta at Tanta, Al Gharbia governorate, about 100 kilometres from the capital Cairo. All photos: EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLDUKANFAIENQ5IAMQAANOXEPY.jpg?smart=true&auth=eda0a5b9b633d15b31a9498b97cdf798e4b980233220371abcd5ca44e99df1d0&width=400&height=225)
Farmers plant rice seedlings at Tanta. The crop requires large quantities of water.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MQFYPEOMX6T6P6HH47LXG2DVBM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ddf415f7d08434fa5120c4882b175936dbb960171dd717d14c4c0c33fe4271a0&width=400&height=225)
The Egyptian government has reduced the cultivation of some crops with high water requirements.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SS32L7NVQFKTJNPYR7QTKWLZWU.jpg?smart=true&auth=3523d1fa6f2ac7904be739c1b23dc907a14b0ffa448ff012f65773577d9577ba&width=400&height=225)
The area of rice cultivation is being affected by this strategy.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UTMJ3I3R6OW3L2XBGOV75WKBIQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f420e5fa24200f0b9ddd47a2ac96c1f83bbcc4213ebb1c6569f0187791d275e7&width=400&height=225)
Farmers plant rice seedlings in a waterlogged field at Tanta.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5WKXFWYTDXXJWWLICMUNSNJNKY.jpg?smart=true&auth=bf9949a23a16374cfa74b59d323ad726d3fddc574687f2b0468c5b1beef6fb31&width=400&height=225)
Producers are said to prefer growing rice to some other crops as it is easier to cultivate.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UEN6OVIJCQESP6KSTPSL6IDGKY.jpg?smart=true&auth=8b02a794e8d9186c4fe9347b4bf69b461ca676d9a35fc20c5c398b78b66a0108&width=400&height=225)
Other attractions include lower production costs, higher profits and storability for long periods.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3ADB6IZWBTRCJJHFB2G3Q7FYZ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=d5f124d2d9d1a08415b479daeb41ca0735352e04af597d3e645540e3d1070c1b&width=400&height=225)
But the Egyptian government is concerned that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project could affect water supplies from the Nile reaching Egypt.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RT75TEY5O3I3K7XVATZTCRNXUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=58c7de1e079fc8548629ceefe9fee324784870c4115cbf1d72ede88be8e142b7&width=400&height=225)
Farmers planting rice seedlings in Tanta are joined by egrets looking for small creatures to feed on.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7ZQTZONW32YZUH3ZEDZ53Y3DBI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9aae683ac559f65b64384ab050c64482d9655b25646944cd73a1be182a4d96fe&width=400&height=225)
Farmers push a trailer stuck in mud while planting rice in Tanta.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EPUUHJWANFO3BKO3T5EKEWB5A4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e8e3c80b04b036ce098e71c3c5e5524b00b24d4a7722b2f8c10104b59b5026a2&width=400&height=225)
A farmer is joined by egrets while planting rice seedlings in Tanta.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KA6YS2RAXWLRCPW4SMHOOMKN7U.jpg?smart=true&auth=9c48a2223cccfb2d6b0e2cf2a20465f77d783354a34c6c72c93804b9f4278db7&width=400&height=225)
Farmers plant rice seedlings in Egypt's fertile Nile Delta at Tanta, Al Gharbia governorate, about 100 kilometres from the capital Cairo. All photos: EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLDUKANFAIENQ5IAMQAANOXEPY.jpg?smart=true&auth=eda0a5b9b633d15b31a9498b97cdf798e4b980233220371abcd5ca44e99df1d0&width=400&height=225)
Farmers plant rice seedlings at Tanta. The crop requires large quantities of water.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MQFYPEOMX6T6P6HH47LXG2DVBM.jpg?smart=true&auth=ddf415f7d08434fa5120c4882b175936dbb960171dd717d14c4c0c33fe4271a0&width=400&height=225)
The Egyptian government has reduced the cultivation of some crops with high water requirements.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/SS32L7NVQFKTJNPYR7QTKWLZWU.jpg?smart=true&auth=3523d1fa6f2ac7904be739c1b23dc907a14b0ffa448ff012f65773577d9577ba&width=400&height=225)
The area of rice cultivation is being affected by this strategy.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UTMJ3I3R6OW3L2XBGOV75WKBIQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f420e5fa24200f0b9ddd47a2ac96c1f83bbcc4213ebb1c6569f0187791d275e7&width=400&height=225)
Farmers plant rice seedlings in a waterlogged field at Tanta.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5WKXFWYTDXXJWWLICMUNSNJNKY.jpg?smart=true&auth=bf9949a23a16374cfa74b59d323ad726d3fddc574687f2b0468c5b1beef6fb31&width=400&height=225)
Producers are said to prefer growing rice to some other crops as it is easier to cultivate.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/UEN6OVIJCQESP6KSTPSL6IDGKY.jpg?smart=true&auth=8b02a794e8d9186c4fe9347b4bf69b461ca676d9a35fc20c5c398b78b66a0108&width=400&height=225)
Other attractions include lower production costs, higher profits and storability for long periods.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3ADB6IZWBTRCJJHFB2G3Q7FYZ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=d5f124d2d9d1a08415b479daeb41ca0735352e04af597d3e645540e3d1070c1b&width=400&height=225)
But the Egyptian government is concerned that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam project could affect water supplies from the Nile reaching Egypt.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RT75TEY5O3I3K7XVATZTCRNXUU.jpg?smart=true&auth=58c7de1e079fc8548629ceefe9fee324784870c4115cbf1d72ede88be8e142b7&width=400&height=225)
Farmers planting rice seedlings in Tanta are joined by egrets looking for small creatures to feed on.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/7ZQTZONW32YZUH3ZEDZ53Y3DBI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9aae683ac559f65b64384ab050c64482d9655b25646944cd73a1be182a4d96fe&width=400&height=225)
Farmers push a trailer stuck in mud while planting rice in Tanta.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/EPUUHJWANFO3BKO3T5EKEWB5A4.jpg?smart=true&auth=e8e3c80b04b036ce098e71c3c5e5524b00b24d4a7722b2f8c10104b59b5026a2&width=400&height=225)
A farmer is joined by egrets while planting rice seedlings in Tanta.