LocationsSeeds of Change: How Farmers in Kafr El-Sheikh Are Embracing Innovation for Climate-Resilient Agriculture
August 14, 2025
Women farmer and her children, beneficiaries of the Making Egypt’s Communities & AgriFood Systems Resilient Project, during the installation of remote soil sensing technology to help smallholders make informed decisions to improve crop yield Photo/UNDP Egypt.
“I used to irrigate without checking the weather—until a windstorm flattened my wheat. Now, I track forecasts before every decision.”
— Khaled Salah El Wakeel, Farmer, Kafr El-Sheikh.
In the heart of Egypt’s Delta, where fertile fields have supported generations, change is taking root. In Kafr El-Sheikh, smallholder farmers—many of them women—are stepping into a new era of agriculture. With rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and depleted soil health, farming has become increasingly uncertain. But thanks to the Making Egypt’s Communities & AgriFood Systems Resilient Project, farmers now have more tools to prepare for the future.
Implemented by UNDP Egypt in partnership with Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation (MoPEDIC) and funded by the Government of Japan, the project connects innovation with tradition. Through a three-day intensive training, 77 women and men farmers learned the principles of climate-smart agriculture, digital tools, and financial inclusion.
Training for farmers in Kafr El Sheikh. Photo: UNDP Egypt
Training for farmers in Kafr El Sheikh. Photo: UNDP Egypt
The training didn’t stop at theory. Four winning startups from UNDP’s agritech pre-acceleration programme presented their smart, scalable solutions to the smallholder farmers—from organic fertilizers and bio-pesticides to solar-powered beekeeping and precision soil testing.
For many, the experience proved highly valuable.
"This was the first time I saw how technology can actually help me in the field,” said Amany, a farmer from Sifr El-Balad. After hearing about low-cost, sustainable beekeeping tech that boosts crop yields and family income, she’s now determined to give it a try. “It’s profitable and fits my lifestyle. I want to start with just a few hives and grow from there.”
Fellow farmer Doaa El-Zoaelli echoed the sentiment. “I now check weather updates before planting. I even got numbers to call for help—something I never had before.” She has already applied raised-bed farming techniques learned during the training to her rice fields, reducing water use and increasing yield.
But enthusiasm isn't limited to the farmers. For the startups, direct engagement with their end users—rural farmers—offered invaluable feedback.
“It was eye-opening,” said Amr Haseeb, co-founder of a biotech startup promoting organic alternatives to chemical fertilizers. “We realized we need to customize our products based on each farmer’s land and crop type. And we must communicate simply—WhatsApp works better than LinkedIn out here.”
That insight resonated with Dr. Mai Nosseir, whose startup provides soil analysis and bio-based agricultural inputs, to help farmers improve crop yields, maintain soil health, and reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers. She plans to follow up with regular field visits and send short educational videos via WhatsApp. “Farmers trust what they see in the field. If one farmer succeeds, the whole village follows,” she said.
Dr. Mai Nosseir presenting her AgriTech start up to farmers in Kafr El Sheikh. Photo/UNDP Egypt
"Demofarms are key," insisted Khaled, the farmer who had his wheat flattened by wind. “Let every association have one model farm following startup guidance. If I see my neighbor’s crops thrive, I’ll try it too.” This allows farmers to learn by seeing.
Khaled Salah El Wakeel at the farmers training in Kafr El Sheikh. Photo/UNDP Egypt
The call for visibility, affordability, and follow-up echoed through nearly every farmer's story. While many were intrigued by digital tools and mobile apps, several—especially older farmers—felt hesitant. “I was taught with chalkboards,” said Mohamed AbdelFattah, “not touchscreens. But with the right support, I’ll try something new.”
For women farmers, the training unlocked both knowledge and a sense of agency. “We own land. We make decisions. We just need support,” said Hosneya Mohamed, who manages farmland with her sisters. She was especially impressed by natural algae-based products that attracted bees and improved pollination. “I’d love to try it—but I need to test on a small plot first. We can’t risk the entire crop.”
Hosneya Mohamed, a farmer in Kafr El-Sheikh, during her interview in the fields following the climate smart agriculture training. Photo: UNDP Egypt.
Field school coordinator and agricultural advisor Engineer Soad Gouish emphasized the urgency of linking innovation to trust: “Farmers won't change unless they see results. That’s why we need more demo farms, more follow-up, and more accessible knowledge—especially for women.”
She added, “Climate-smart agriculture isn’t a luxury anymore. It’s survival.”
Farmer and trainers during the climate smart agriculture training in Kafr El Sheikh. Photo/UNDP Egypt.
Indeed, Egypt’s farming communities are no strangers to adaptation—but what they need now is access: to knowledge, tools, financing, and markets. Through the project, steps are being taken to make that access a reality.
By bridging the gap between digital innovation and rural practice, this initiative is not only protecting Egypt’s food security—it’s empowering farmers with the confidence, knowledge and resources they need to thrive in a changing climate.
As Ayman Abd El Megeed, a member of the Joint Agricultural Association in Desouk, Kafr El Sheikh, simply put it: “I have the ambition. I just need the means.”
More about the project:
The Making Egypt’s Communities & AgriFood Systems Resilient” project aims to increase people’s sense of agency by strengthening farmers’, women’s, and communities’ capacity through digital literacy, financial inclusion, and innovative risk insurance models. It promotes the resilience of farming practices by piloting high-yield, climate smart-adapted techniques, fostering collective dialogue and connecting innovations to smallholder farmers; ensuring that the voices of those on the ground inform policies that protect their livelihoods. This project also places a strong emphasis on building local capacity and fostering sustainable development through knowledge sharing and peer learning. It also aims to create an enabling environment for innovation by strengthening partnerships among government agencies, private sector actors, and civil society—ensuring that the benefits of technological advancement are widespread and sustained over time. Through these combined efforts, the project aspires to transform Egypt’s agricultural landscape into a more resilient, productive, and inclusive system that benefits all stakeholders involved.