A FRAMEWORK FOR INTRODUCING THE PRECISION AGRICULTURE TECHNOLOGIES IN EGYPT/ Mahmoud Abdelsalam Mohamed Abdelnabby

Supervisor:
Tarek Khalil,
Mohamed Mamdouh Awny
Mohamed Ezzat

Thesis (PH.D)—Nile University, Egypt, 2022 .

"Includes bibliographical references"

Contents:
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................................... iii
DECLARATION FOR COPYING ................................................................................................ iv
ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................... 1
CHAPTER I - INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 3
1.1 Reasons for selecting agricultural sector ...................................................................................... 3
1.2 Precision agriculture technologies ............................................................................................... 4
1.3 Reasons for introducing Precision Agriculture in Egypt ............................................................. 6
1.4 Potential Precision Agriculture technologies for Egypt ............................................................... 7
1.5 Digital transformation in the agricultural sector .......................................................................... 8
1.6 Dissertation structure .................................................................................................................... 9
CHAPTER II - LITERATURE REVIEW ..................................................................................... 10
2.1 Definitions ................................................................................................................................. 10
2.1.1. Information and Communication Technologies: ........................................................................ 10
2.1.2. ICT for Agriculture (ICT4Ag) ................................................................................................... 11
2.1.3. Digital technologies: .................................................................................................................. 11
2.1.4. Precision Farming ...................................................................................................................... 12
2.2 Imaging Sensors ......................................................................................................................... 13
2.2.1 Challenges of multi/hyper spectral images in Precision Agriculture Applications ................... 16
2.2.2 Applications of multi-sensor imaging in agricultural machinery ............................................... 18
2.2.3 Satellite based solutions: ............................................................................................................ 20
2.3 Precision farming Cycle and applicability ................................................................................. 21
2.4 The Fourth Industrial Revolution in Agriculture ....................................................................... 27
2.5 Robotics in Precision Agriculture .............................................................................................. 28
2.6 Internet of Things in Precision Agriculture ................................................................................ 32
2.7 Machine Learning in Precision Agriculture ............................................................................... 36
2.8 Applications of Precision Agriculture in Egypt ......................................................................... 42
CHAPTER III - RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ........................................................................ 46
3.1 Problem statement ...................................................................................................................... 46
3.2 The research questions and objectives ....................................................................................... 48
3.3 Significance of the study ............................................................................................................ 50
3.4 Research method: ....................................................................................................................... 50
3.4.1 Collection of Secondary Data .................................................................................................... 52
3.4.2 Collection of Primary Data ........................................................................................................ 53
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3.5 Sample composition and Size .................................................................................................... 54
3.6 Participants of the primary data collection ................................................................................. 54
3.7 Data Analysis ............................................................................................................................. 55
3.8 Description of the data collection tools ...................................................................................... 57
3.8.1 Description of the questions used in the Awareness Survey: ..................................................... 57
3.8.2 Description of the questions used in the Focus Group discussions: .......................................... 57
3.8.3 Online questionnaire details: ...................................................................................................... 58
CHAPTER IV - RESULTS AND ANALYSIS ............................................................................. 62
4.1 Results of the awareness survey ................................................................................................. 62
4.2 Results of the Focus Group Discussions .................................................................................... 65
4.3 Results of online questionnaire .................................................................................................. 68
4.3.1 Sample description (Basic information) ..................................................................................... 68
4.3.2 The degree of PA technology application .................................................................................. 76
4.4 Drivers and Obstacles to Expanding the Application of Precision Agriculture Technologies .. 92
4.4.1 Dissemination of precision agriculture technologies in Egypt ................................................... 97
4.5 Study hypothesis research results: .............................................................................................. 99
CHAPTER V - CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND FUTURE RESEARCH .... 102
5.1 Study conclusion: ..................................................................................................................... 102
5.2 Proposed framework for PA dissemination ............................................................................. 106
5.3 Study limitations ...................................................................................................................... 108
5.4 Recommendations .................................................................................................................... 108
5.5 Further research ........................................................................................................................ 110
REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................ 111
APPENDIX I - Online Questionnaire in English ........................................................................ 115
APPENDIX II - Questionnaire in Arabic .................................................................................... 124
APPENDIX III - Publication and survey tools/results ................................................................

Abstract:
The Precision Agriculture (PA) is one of the technological patterns that has been introduced to the
agricultural sectors in many countries in the past 30 years. Many businesses have depended on PA
technologies in their operations, and this has resulted in significant changes in management
decisions through better understanding of the agricultural production requirements. The Precision
Agriculture technologies use several components and are applied in many agricultural subsectors
such as crops, horticulture, forestry, and livestock. The main objective of Precision Agriculture is
to provide accurate data correlating between plants, soil, and weather in a way that saves resources
by being rationally used. This study focuses on the introduction of Precision Agriculture
Technologies in Egypt and addresses the key drivers and obstacles affecting its diffusion. This has
been achieved through conducting an intensive desk research on the previous experience in the
applications of PA technologies worldwide. This includes scientific as well as commercially
provided solutions in the market. Moreover, primary data collection has been conducted to test the
applicability of PA in Egypt and provide recommendations to promote this important technological
pattern and to mitigate the negative effect of its challenges.
There are many PA technologies that have been identified such as use of image sensors and vision
machines in detection of plant pathogens at early stages. Image processing has been also used to
support other PA solutions such as robotics and satellite-based applications which are widely used
in many countries. Furthermore, this study identifies technologies that depend on robotics which
are used for cultivation, weeding, and harvesting crops. In addition, the study highlighted the use
of unmanned tractors using guidance equipment which are supported by satellite technologies as
well as the use of drones in agriculture. Moreover, other technologies have been identified in this
study such as Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) which are used in improving
the prediction models of computer programs that are supporting the decisions of the farmers.
Finally, the study highlighted the current PA technologies applied in Egypt and potential solutions
that might be demanded in the future based on sector needs.
The agriculture sector in Egypt is affected by several factors such as the increase in the prices of
agrochemicals and other agricultural inputs. This reduces farmers’ profits and causes financial
losses. In addition, the agriculture sector is suffering from lack of agricultural extension and
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advisory services which limit farmers’ adoption of the modern agricultural technologies.
Moreover, limited availability of skilled professionals in the field of precision agriculture
negatively affects their diffusion among companies as well as research community. Precision
irrigation is not yet endorsed by the Government of Egypt (GOE) however, it has a potential role
that can develop the agricultural sector.
Precision Agriculture Technologies (PAT) have been identified and used in many other countries
either for research purposes or commercially. Most of the addressed challenges and obstacles
affecting the agriculture sector in Egypt could be eliminated by the adoption of PAT. The data
analytics can support decision makers either for governmental entities or for private businesses
which will lead to decrease agrochemicals usage, pollutions, and production costs.
This study helps in understanding the PA concepts and its applicability in Egypt through
introducing a framework for PA successful implementation. This has included identification of the
current technologies used in the country, potential technologies to be adopted and sector needs that
can be fulfilled through PA. The study depended on primary data sources that included surveys,
questionnaires, and group discussions. A sample of 271 expert respondents was reached by the
different research tools (surveys, focus group discussions, and questionnaires). The research
methods were designed based on a research matrix that included research questions and associated
variables to understand the status of PA technologies in Egypt.
The results of this study confirmed that PA can solve some of the agricultural sector problems. PA
can be applied in Egypt through enhancing its drivers and eliminating the diffusion obstacles. In
addition, the study proposed a roadmap for disseminating PA technologies in Egypt which can be
achieved through building capacities of PA for professionals and businesses. The study also
highlighted the correlations between variables that helped in conceptualizing the conclusions of
this research work. The conclusions emphasized on the role of professionals, institutions and other
stakeholders in the diffusion of PA in Egypt and priorities for technological categories to be
introduced.
Finally, the research in the field of PA requires further intensive studies and efforts that shall help
in measuring interrelations between variables and increase the applications of PA in Egypt. This
can be achieved through integration between research centers, academia with private sector to
share results and assist farmers to overcome climate change problems and make them more
dependent on analytics rather than intuitions and experience.

Text in English, abstracts in English.