The present work was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary propolis supplementation to laying Japanese quail ( Coturnix coturnix japonica ) on egg production, egg quality, physiological and immunological aspects under heat stress conditions. A total of 200, 21-day-old, Japanese quail females were distributed equally into standard wired cages in two identical environmentally-controlled rooms (10 cages per room, 10 birds per cage). From 29–70 d of age, the quail birds in the first room remained at a normal temperature of 24°C (C group), whereas the quail birds in the second room were kept under heat stress at 35°C (HS group). Each group was further assigned to 2 propolis subgroups (5 cages per subgroup); one of them received a basal diet without propolis supplementation (-PR subgroup), while, the other received 1 g propolis/ kg basal diet (+PR subgroup). In the present study, performance and egg production of laying quail were significantly (P<0.001) impaired by HS treatment and improved by the PR treatment. Similarly, the negative and positive effects of HS and PR, respectively, were appeared on the egg shell thickness and yolk index. Stress indicators in laying quail were significantly (P<0.001) increased by HS, while, PR significantly (P<0.05) moderated these levels in the HS+PR group when compared to the HS-PR quail group. In addition to the positive impact of PR on the plasma levels of calcium, phosphorus, and albumin, it also normalized the plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase and cholesterol in the heat-stressed quail birds. Moreover, the quail birds in the HS groups expressed lower immunological aspects than those in the C group, while, the addition of propolis to the diets enhanced the immune status of laying quail birds under HS conditions. These results strongly suggest that dietary propolis supplementation could be a successful attempt to maintain the performance and egg production of laying Japanese quail at convenient levels under heat stress conditions.

Agriculture in Upper Egypt is characterized by unsustainable farming practices and a lack of the use of market intelligence. Improving agriculture in Upper Egypt is necessary, as farmers in this region need to meet the quality standards required by international markets if they are to increase export volumes. For this reason, agricultural interventions are required to transition from the current traditional farming systems and marketing practices to sustainable conservation farming practices and the use of market intelligence and logistics. The main aim of this research study is to assess the potential for improving the livelihoods of rural communities by conducting a cost–benefit analysis (CBA) and conducting a risk analysis using the Monte Carlo simulation method for the proposed agricultural interventions. Our results imply that the analyzed interventions are viable from both a financial and socio-economic point of view. The impacts of the interventions reveal real incremental employment opportunities at the farming level. In addition, the interventions have a very low probability of negative returns and become almost zero when we add the economic benefit to society.

This article aims to examine the long and short run relationship between agricultural exports and agriculture share of GDP. Links between series considered are assessed by co-integration analysis using Johansen co-integration technique and ECM-GARCH. Results indicate a positive link in the short and long term between agricultural exports and agriculture share of GDP, as well as cointegration between the pairs of series used. Also i t can be found that increases in agricultural exports were followed by increases in agriculture share of GDP. Agriculture exports and agriculture share of GDP elasticities are 0.62. The past shocks and agricultural exports increased agriculture share of GDP volatility.

Cold storage projects are important because they provide marketing services through sorting, grading and packing the crops. The Horticultural Export Improvement Association (HEIA) implemented new investments financed by USAID for the development of the cooling station and training district at Luxor Governorate in Upper Egypt with a storage capacity of 90 metric tons per day at L.E. 30 million investments. The Packing and Cooling Station was initiated in July 2015. The study reflects problem at the Cooling and Packing Station at Luxor Governorate. It does not operate at its maximum capacity of 50 tons per day. It operates for no more than two months and is currently inefficiently operating where the fees are higher compared to competitors. This is due to the lack of horticultural crops to operate.The objectives current study were to study the actual reality of the nine associations producing and marketing horticultural crops at Luxor and Qena Governorates, estimate the current and economic containment capacity of this logistic service of The Packing and Cooling Station (HEIA) at Luxor,estimate the financial feasibility of (HEIA) at Luxor, sensitivity measurement analysis through three scenarios to find out the station's ability to meet operational capacity fluctuations and price risk, developing mechanisms to economically operate The station and finally, the direct and indirect impacts were assessed in case of the economic operation capacity of the Packing and Cooling Station (HEIA).To achieve these objectives, the current study utilized questionnaires data at the level of nine associations dealing with the Project (Al-AMAL) during the season 2016/2017. Other information were from (HEIA) office data registers as well as information from some field and meetings obtained with parties who are concerned in this study. Analysis methods used the descriptive statistics of simple averages and percentages, SWOT analysis indicators, methods of quantitative analysis of financial feasibility study using the criteria of non-discount profitability and on discount profitability indicators.Basic solution results were calculated at a capacity of 23.9 thousand tons annual production. The findings indicated that when the service fee is L.E. 1250.5 per ton; the internal rate of return for the project is estimated at about 23% greater than the alternative opportunity cost of capital. It was also noted that simple average return on investment is approximately 11.2% and the payback period of investment was estimated at 8.9 years. The breakeven point of production was estimated at about 22.8 tons per day, representing 26 % of the operating capacity estimated at 88.1 tons per day. The previous results regarding the basic solution show that the minimum required to possibly operate the Station to yield cash flow should not be less than 23.9 thousand tons annually for a period of 270 days .With the increase in the operating capacity mentioned in the first and second scenario by 21.3%, 63.2%, respectively, from the operating capacity mentione...

No abstract