Fluctuations in Internal Water Footprint of Major Crops in Egypt: Implications for Sustainable Water Management

The scarcity of water represents a significant obstacle to the advancement of agriculture in Egypt, requiring the implementation of inventive water policies and effective resource management practices. The notion of virtual water, which considers the water contained within things, is a possible remedy to mitigate the strain on water resources. This study examines the changes over time in the amount of water used internally and the amount of virtual water exported by rice, maize, and wheat crops in Egypt between 2000 and 2018. The assessment evaluates the impact of climate variables, crop productivity, and renewable water sources on the internal water footprint. The study uses data from several sources and applies a Nonlinear Autoregressive Distributed Lag (NARDL) model to analyse how productivity, renewable water supplies, temperature, and precipitation affect the internal water footprint. The EVIEWS software is utilised for conducting statistical analysis. The results demonstrate that the internal water footprint and productivity of the crops studied vary over time, and climate conditions and the availability of water control this variation. The maximum internal water footprint values for rice, maize, and wheat were recorded in 2008, 2011, and 2017, respectively, aligning with the highest temperatures and available renewable water resources. The analysis reveals complex connections between the independent factors and the internal water footprint of each crop. Precipitation has an inverse correlation with the internal water footprint of rice, but renewable water resources have a favourable impact on the internal water footprint of wheat. The study emphasizes improving crop choices to minimize water usage and boost water output. Given Egypt’s expected water scarcity by 2025 and its reliance on Nile water for irrigation, implementing sustainable solutions for water resource management in agriculture is crucial. These findings give useful insights for policymakers and stakeholders in creating efficient water management policies and promoting food security in Egypt.