Balancing productivity and sustainability: climate change and economic efficiency in wheat crop farms on salt-affected land

The study aimed to estimate the production economics efficiency indicators for the cultivated wheat crop in the salt-affected lands in Sharkia Governorate. A sample of 102 households has been randomly selected from the studied area. The distribution of farm households across the defined five Villages (clusters) was determined. Interviewed farmers were randomly selected from the five studied villages. The results revealed: First: The effects of a 10% decrease in wheat productivity on indicators of economic efficiency in lands affected by salinity according to farm size are: (1) for the farmer. Small, both total costs and variable costs per unit increased by 11.1%. Farm margin, net profit per acre, net water return, casual margin per acre, and water productivity decreased by 25.4, 16.1, 16.1, 12.1 and 10.0%, respectively. (2) For large farms, total costs and variable costs per ardab were increased by 11.1%. Farm margin, net profit per acre, net return on water crossing, margin per acre, and water productivity decreased by 25.2, 15.6, 15.6, 11.8 and 10.0%, respectively. (3) At the average level, total costs and variable costs per ardab increased by 11.1%. Farm margin, net profit per acre, net return on water, margin per acre, and water productivity decreased by 25.3, 15.8, 15.8, 12.0 and 10.0%, respectively. Second: The effects of a 20% increase in wheat seed prices on indicators of economic efficiency in lands affected by salinity according to farm size. At the average level, the total costs and variable costs per ardab increased by 1.3% and 1.9%, respectively. Farmers' margin, net profit per acre, net water return, casual margin per acre, and farmer incentives decreased by 3.0, 1.5, 1.5, 1.1 and 1.5%, respectively. The research recommends the need to maintain lands affected by salts due to their impact on the productivity of the wheat crop, as well as so that agriculture can continue.