الفهرس 
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Abstract
Summary and Conclusions
The study includes six parts. The first part handled
economic significance of onion, problem & objective of the
study, research methodology and sources of data.
The second part covered references review of previous
related studies conducted on onion production & marketing.
The third part includes two chapters. The first chapter
tackled evolution of area of the three plantings of onion,
production worthiness per feddan and evolution of total
production. The second chapter handled factors affecting
production of onion namely, price, value of production, net
return f., cost of production and eventually problems and
proposed solutions.
The fourth part includes two chapters. The first chapter
covered domestic and foreign marketing of onion. The second
chapter tackled domestic consumption of onion and factors
affecting it.
The fifth part handled a field study on economical aspects
of onion production & marketing in Sohag governorate.
The sixth part concentrated on economics of production &
marketing of dehydrated onions. Eventually, the study was
concluded by major results reached.
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In the next part, more light will be thrown on details of
each part of this study.
The first part of this study was concerned about economic
signifcance of onion crop stating that total production in 1995
amounted to 998 thousand tons, valued at L.E. 98.5 millions and
onion exports valued at L.E. 78 m. Therefore, onion is ranked
the third after cotton and rice in terms of agricultural exports.
The second part covered references review for major
researches & studies conducted on production & marketing of
onions . Outcomes of this study are in cosistence with results of
previous studies.
The third part elaborated on economies of fresh oruon
production & marketing in A.R.E. in two chapters. The first
chapter focused on evolution of onion area, production,
productivity (1980 - 1996 ). The area has been fluctuant
reaching its peak 176 thousand f in 1988 and its bottom 137
thousand f. in 1991. It was found out that annual increase was
estimated by 2.198 thousand f. equal 0.68% over the annual
average 141 thousand f. without statistical significance.
Reviewing general trend of productivity showed annual
increase estimated at 4.867 ton/f in 1980 and 7.106 ton/f. in
1994. Increase in yield/f. was 0.123 ton/f equal 2.2 %over
annual average 6.144 ton/f.
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Reviewing general trend of total production showed
fluctuation trened too. It was at the peak of 1072 thousand tons
in 1988 and at the bottom 654 thousand tons in 1981 or an
annual increase of 269 thousand tons with 3.20/0increase over
the annual average ( 840.1 thousand tons and statistical
significance ). The second chapter tackled factors affecting
production of onion. The main factor was defined as price which
showed to be increasing steadily. In 1980 price was L.E. 42.65
per ton rose to L.E. 291 in 1994 achieving 572% increase over
the base year. Net return/f. increased form L.E. 65.80/ton in
1980 to L.E. 558.90/ ton in 1994 achieving 237% over the base
year. Net return/f. of onion is higher than that of substituent
crops as wheat, broad beans, fenugreek and lentil. Therefore,
expansion in onion area is recommended. Value of onion
production has been increasing steadily as it was L.E. 36m. for
onion, L.E. 13 m. for fenugreek and L.E. 16 m. for lentil.
Cost of production also took upward trend as it rose from
L.E. 280.69/f. in 1980 to L.E. 1438.50/f. in 1994 with annual
increase of 13%. Comparative importance of cost items were:
wage, seeds, chemical fertilizers, machinery rent, land rent,
miscelaneous, pesticides, manure and draft animal rent. This
chapter also included estimation of production function as
decision coefficient was 0.877 meaning that 88% of changes in
production is due to changes in values of inputs of production.
Decision coefficient of winter onion was 0.491 meaning
that 49% changes in cultivated area is due to changes in farm
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price of previous year. This chapter also handled problems of
fresh onion production. Major problems were white rot disease,
poor soil fertility, low farm price and high cost of production.
The fourth part covered domestic and foreign marketing of
onion through a number of chapters. Chapter one covered
channels of marketing including field, road and wholesale
marketring. This chapter also covered marketing steps such as
sorting, grading, packing and transportation. It also referred to
major marketing problems on domestic level and interntional
level as well. Domestic marketing problems are low farm price,
unfair sorting, high waste of production and bad storage
conditions. Solutions of those problems are development of
extension & transport services and setting floor price to protect
growers. This chapter also tackled evolution of foreign trade
indicating that our exports to Europe reached 4.973 thousand
tons, valued at L.E. 1.52 and rose to 12.335 thousand tons
valued at L.E. 9.12 ID. in 1994. Onion exports to Arab market
amounted to 1.455 thousand tons ( L.E. 1.8 m. ) representing
10% of total exports of that year. The second chapter of this part
concentrated on domestic consumption, At domestic level,
annual rate of increase in consumption is 21 thousand ton or
2.2% annually with statistical significance of 0.01. Major factor
affecting pattern of consumption are population which is
correlated significantly with onion consumption indicating that
96% of changes in expenditure on onion consumption is
attributed to growth rate of population. Per capita income is
significantly correlated with onion consumption indicating that
88% of changes in expenditure on onion is due to increase of per
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capita income. Relation between price of onion and consumption
I showed that decision coefficient is abut 0.021 meaning that
there is no significant correlation between price & consumption
of onion.
The fifth part of this study covered the field study
conducted in Sohag. The study indicated that total area of
onion in Sohag represents 27% of total holdings of the examined
sample. Variance analysis of relationship between total holdings
and onion area in vallage of Sohag was no relation that meaning
farm size does not affect acreage of onion. The price of onion
per ton was between L.E. 290 minimum and L.E. 295 maximum.
Return per f. of onion was estimated at L.E. 2357 and return of
each L.E. was estimated on average at L.E. 2.05 reaching its
peak L.E. 2.50 in Elshekh Massoud and its bottom L.E. 1.08 in
AI Tolayhat. Education level of fanner and family labour were
found of no relationship on production of onion. Relationship
between size of holding and productivity was not significance
and no correlation was proved to be existing. Likewise,
relationship between average cost of production per feddan and
different size of farms was not significant, meaning that farm
size has no effect on cost of production. Comparative
importance of items of cost of production were ranked orderly as
follows:
Wage 20%, seed 190.4, chemical fertilizer 17%, machinery
rent 11%, land rent 9O.t’o, miscellaneous 4%, pesticides 2%,
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manure 1% and draft animals 0.01% of total cost in the
governorate.
In this part of the study onion production functions in
Sohag governorate were estimated and decision coefficient was
not significant and reached 0.27 meaning that 27% of total
changes in production were attributed to changes in inputs of
production. Production elasticity was lack indicating absence of
elasticity, meaning that farmer takes production decision prior
knowing quantity and price of production. Cost of production
functions of onion in Sohag revealed that decision coefficient
reached 0.84 meaning that 84% of changes in total production is
attributed to changes in costs. Elasticity of cost in the examined
sample was 0.57 meaning that the commodity lacks elasticity as
farmer grows onion under the influence of pattern of production
regardless cost of production.
problems of onion production in Sohag have been
identified as follows: Low farm price, poor soil fertility, changes
in irrigation system, infestation of diseases & pests, high cost of
production in general, scarcity of labour, poor credit system,
lack of fertilizers and poor extension service.
Major marketing problems have been identified as
follows:
unstability of price and cost of transportation, lack of specialized
stores, lack of institutions which protect the interests of growers
and lack of marketing information.
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Solutions of those problems are suitable land for
culttivation and selected seeds, cearing about fertilizing,
pesticides according to the world rations, reducing of production
cost.
The six part covered economics of production and
marketing of dehydated onion in A.R.E. Problems & Constraints
facing onion dehyration processing were that shortage of onion
supply all the year round and capacity of operation was confined
to 4 months a year. Also, quality of dehydrated onion was not
attained because processing plants rely on low quality onions.
Consumption pattern in Egypt is not encouraging dehydrated
onion. That is why most of dehydrated onion produced is
directed to foreign markets.
The second chapter of part six dealt with foreign trade of
onion indicating that our exports are increasing steadily. In 1980
exports of onion reached 5.974 thousand tons valued at L.E.
6.094 m. increased to 7.151 thousand tons valued at L.E. 40.792
or annual increase of 1.2%.
Major constraints of dehydrated onion exports were: a)
early announcement of export floor price which enabled
competing countries to take more advantages for getting more
access to world market. b) Domestic market was unable to
accomodate surples of dehydrated onions forcing Egyptian
exporter to accept the lowest boder price. c) Lack ofmarlcting
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data information needed for formulation of efficient agricultural
policies.
The study recommend to: a ) pay more attention to
packing, labelling process. b ) Eliminate middlemen to minimize
cost of marketing to raise efficiency of Egyption dehydrated
onion in the face of world competition. c ) Specify one
organization whose mandate is to handle control and procedural
aspects of onion exports. d ) Establish new dehydration factories
relying on fresh onion imported for being dehydrated and re -
exported again.
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