Value chain analysis of the Egyptian aquaculture sector

Abstract

Egypt’s aquaculture production (921,585 tonnes in 2010) is by far the largest of any African country and places it 11th in terms of global production. Despite the fact that the aquaculture sector in Egypt is now a mature one having developed over a period of more than 30 years, the economic performance of the sector is not well understood or documented. To help improve this understanding WorldFish Centre conducted a value-chain study for the sector in September 2011. The study completed individual interviews and focus group discussions with fish farmers, traders/wholesalers, and retailers in four of the most important governorates in terms of aquaculture production: Kafr el Sheikh, Behera, Sharkia, and Fayoum. The study mapped the value-chain, and generated a wide range of quantitative data for each link in the value-chain on operational and financial performance (e.g. gross output values, variable and fixed costs, operational and net profit margins, value-added generation), and on employment creation (by gender, age and full-time/part-time).