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© 2020 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 
 

Agriculture and Food Sciences Research 
Vol. 7, No. 1, 1-6, 2020 

ISSN(E) 2411-6653/ ISSN(P) 2518-0193 
DOI: 10.20448/journal.512.2020.71.1.6 

© 2020 by the authors; licensee Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 

    
 

 
 
 
Efficiency of Agriculture and Water Sector and the Reality of Food Security in Arab 
Countries (2010-2017) 

 
Omer Allagabo Omer Mustafa    

 

 
Expert of Economics and Banking, General Union of Arabs Experts (Morocco), Assistant Professor of 
Economics, Banking and Finance, Deputy Secretary of Academic Affairs-Sudan Academy for Banking and 
Financial Sciences (SABFS-Sudan), Khartoum, Sudan. 

 

 
Abstract 

The main aim of the paper is to presents the reality of food security in Arab countries (that means 
literally the Arab peninsula and the North African Arab States); in the light of the efficiency of 
agriculture and water sector during the period (2010-2017). The descriptive analytical approach 
was used. Secondary data were collected and used to describe challenges that faced Arab food 
security during that period. The results found that agricultural production is insufficient to meets 
the demand for food in Arab countries because it highly depends on rain-fed irrigation which 
causes low productivity; in connection with poor strategic planning.  Further, it is found that, 
poor exploitation and miss-management of water resources, conversion of farmland to urban uses, 
application of old technology, population growth, rising demand for food and degradation of 
natural resources have contributed to widening of food gap. The study recommends that, if Arab 
countries want to achieve the food security and self-sufficiency they have to consider the 
following: use of modern technology to improve the productivity, cooperation in agricultural 
research, good utilization of water resources and effective agricultural and financing policies. 

 
Keywords: Efficiency, Agriculture, Water sector, Reality, Food security, Arab countries. 

 
Citation | Omer Allagabo Omer Mustafa (2020). Efficiency of 
Agriculture and Water Sector and the Reality of Food Security in 
Arab Countries (2010-2017). Agriculture and Food Sciences 
Research, 7(1): 1-6. 
History:  
Received: 4 November 2019 
Revised: 6 December 2019 
Accepted: 9 January 2020 
Published: 18 February 2020 
Licensed: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons 

Attribution 3.0 License  
Publisher:  Asian Online Journal Publishing Group 
 

Funding: This study received no specific financial support. 
Competing Interests: The author declares that there are no conflicts of 
interests regarding the publication of this paper. 
Transparency: The author confirms that the manuscript is an honest, 
accurate, and transparent account of the study was reported; that no vital 
features of the study have been omitted; and that any discrepancies from the 
study as planned have been explained. 
Ethical: This study follows all ethical practices during writing.   

 

 

Contents 
1. Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 
2. Environmental and Climatic Characteristics of the Arab Region ............................................................................................ 3 
3. Food Gap and Self-Sufficiency in Arab Countries ....................................................................................................................... 4 
4. Conclusions .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 5 
5. Recommendations ............................................................................................................................................................................... 5 
References ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 5 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 2020, 7(1): 1-6 

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Contribution of this paper to the literature 
This study contributes to existing literature by presenting the reality of food security in Arab countries 
(that means literally the Arab peninsula and the North African Arab States); in the light of the efficiency 
of agriculture and water sector during the period (2010-2017). 

 
1. Introduction 

Arab world still suffers from a chronic food gap. Agriculture sector is heavily dependent on rainwater where 
irrigated area is approximately 21.5% of the cultivable area .Also, demand for food has long exceeded domestic 

agricultural production [1]. The per capita of water availability in Arab region is annually estimated at 790m3, 

which is less than the water poverty line defined globally by 1000m3.Moreover, estimates of 60% of irrigation 
water is wasted and about 1.3 billion tons of materials used for human consumption are lost. 
 

1.1. The Problem Statement     
In recent years, importations of food commodities by Arab countries - issue of food security - have been 

increased. This situation raises questions about the reality of Arab food security and the role of agricultural and 
water sector in reducing of the Arab food gap? 

 
1.2. The Research Significance 

The study focuses on the agriculture and water sector as important factor in achieving food self-sufficiency for 
Arab countries. It also concentrates on the reality of food security and challenges that are facing the bridqe of food 
gap.    
 

1.3. The Research Objectives 
• To recognize the reality of food security in Arab countries.  

• To explain the relation between food security and efficiency of agriculture and water sector. 

• To highlight challenges that face Arab food security.  

• To track and analyze the food gap in Arab countries. 
 

1.4. The Research Questions 
• What is the reality of food security in Arab countries?  

• What are the challenges facing Arab food security?  

• Are agriculture and water sector effective in reducing the food gap in Arab countries? 

 
1.5. The Research Methodology 

To answer the questions and achieve the objectives, the study draws on the descriptive-analytical approach in 
explaining the reality of food security in Arab Countries and its relation to efficiency of agriculture and water 
sector. Data were collected from secondary sources. 
 

1.6. Literature Reviews 
FAO [2] defined the concept of food security as a situation that exists when all people, at all times, have 

physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food 
preferences for an active and healthy life. 

Mohammad [3] stated that there is a need to differentiate between the relative food security and absolute food 
security when defining food security. Relative food security is the ability of a state to provide the regular needs of 
its people from food commodities fully or partially. 

Talukder [4] used time series data to examine the relationship between food security and self-sufficiency status 
of Bangladesh 1999-2000. The analysis showed that in relation to standard nutritional norm of food intake, 
Bangladesh virtually remained a surplus producer of food grains from the year 1999-2000. 

Awatif, et al. [5] assessed the challenges confronting the expansion of agricultural production in Sudan. The 
results stressed the critical role of Agricultural Bank of Sudan in enhancing of agricultural production. 

Najib [6] discussed food security, efficiency and shifting of dietary habits in Arab countries. The results 
pointed out that Arab countries, in their quest to enhance food self-sufficiency, face serious challenges emanating 
from a backdrop of constraining factors, including aridity, limited cultivable land, scarce water resources and 

serious implications of climate change . 
Al-Fawwaz and Ahmed [7] investigated the reality of food security in the Arab World. The study concludes 

that the reality of food security is unstable and fluctuated; there is no self-sufficiency to cover the needs of the Arab 
states. In addition, food security is connected to the power of water security, as most of water resources come from 
non-Arab states. Water shortage may lead to the food gap for Arab countries. 

Lee, et al. [8] suggested that the water-energy nexus might be a serious issue in future sustainable planning 
and policies, given the impacts of climate change in the world in general and in Arab world particularly. 

Hameed, et al. [9] reviewed the 21st century challenges that face food, energy and water (FEW) security in the 
Middle East. The study found that, most of the studied countries are facing FEW resource insecurities. Also the 
study suggested that climatic and socioeconomic factors have contributed to the subsequent stress on FEW 
resources, particularly the water sector. 

Despite, a number of research bodies have discussed the dilemma of food security in the world, this paper seeks 
to highlight efficiency of both agriculture and water sector to identify the reality of food security in Arab countries 
during the period (2010-2017). 
 



Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 2020, 7(1): 1-6 

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2. Environmental and Climatic Characteristics of the Arab Region 
Arab region is characterized by environmental diversity caused by several factors, of which are: geographical 

location, wide area and the diversity of its topography. These factors led to the diversity of the environment in 
terms of temperature and the amounts of rain. Arab region is divided into three main climatic regions, the largest 
of which is the arid desert region, which covers about 75% of the total area. It is characterized by a hot continental 
climate in summer, cold in winter with scarcity of rains (less than 100mm per year). Followed by the semi-wet / 
semi-arid tropical region, which covers the southern parts of the Arab world with rainfall in average 
btween100mm-600mm annually. The Mediterranean region includes the coastal strip of Arab countries bordering 
the Mediterranean Sea characterized by mild climate and annual rainfall of 1000mm. It also includes land south of 

the coastline, with area of  one million km2 and annual rainfall ranged between 600mm to 1000mm [10]. 
 

2.1. Agricultural Land in Arab Countries 
Total arable area in Arab world is about 197 million hectares, representing 14.7% of the total area of 1344 

million hectares. This area is well below the global average of 37%. The cultivated area is estimated at 75 million 
hectares in 2016-2017. It represents about 38.1% of the arable area and 5.6% of total area of Arab region [11]. 
 

Table-1. Agricultural and wastelands in Arab Countries (2010-2017). 

    (Million Hectares) 
Year Cultivated 

Area 
Rainfed Agricultural Lands Irrigated Agricultural Lands Uncultivated Lands 

Seasonal 
Rainfed 

Sustainable 
Rainfed 

Rainfed as 
%  of 

Cultivated 

Seaso
nal 

Irriga
ted 

Sustain
able 

Irrigate
d 

Irrigated 
as % of 

Cultivated 
Wastela

nd 

Uncultivate
d as % of 

Cultivated 

2010 68.48 35.47 5.93 60.5 10.44 3.05 19.7 13.572 19.8 
2011 68.75 34.20 6.01 58.5 10.61 3.09 19.9 14.804 21.6 
2012 68.97 32.90 6.09 56.5 10.79 3.13 20.2 16.037 23.3 
2013 69.69 36.70 5.70 60.8 11.03 3.70 21.1 12.553 18.0 
2014 69.92 33.58 5.74 56.2 10.15 3.77 19.9 16.664 23.8 
2015 77.21 39.06 5.79 58.1 9.920 3.86 17.8 18.520 23.9 
2016 75.08 31.25 5.84 49.4 9.770 3.84 18.1 24.380 32.5 
2017 76.14 35.15 5.81 53.8 9.840 3.85 17.9 21.450 28.2 

 Source: AMF [12]. 
 

 Table 1 shows that: 

• Arab countries depend on rain-fed agriculture, where the percentage of rain-fed land to total arable area 
ranged 60.5% in 2010 to 49.4% in 2016. 

• During the period 2010-2017, the percentage of irrigated land did not exceed 22% of the total agricultural 
land, this, might led to expansion of food gap. 

• The percentage of uncultivated land ranged between 18% and 24%, indicating inefficiency uses of cultivated. 
 

2.2. Performance of Agricultural Sector in Arab Countries (2010-2017) 
Usually the performance of the agricultural sector is measured by its contribution to GDP and by the average 

per capita income of agricultural output. 
 

Table-2. Agricultural product in Arab countries (2010-2017). 

       Million Dollars 

Growth Rate of 
Agricultural 

Product 

Growth 
Rate of 

Arab GDP 

Per Capita   Income 
of Agriculture 

Product($) 

Agriculture 
Product as % 
of Arab GDP 

Agriculture 
Production 

Arab 
GDP 

Year 

9.4 17.0 395 6.2 124419 2004730 2010 
6.7 17.9 386 5.6 132802 2365373 2011 
-2.0 5.08 372 4.9 130144 2485542 2012 
8.5 11.7 394 6.4 141280 2775394 2013 
3.7 1.15 399 5.3 146553 2807440 2014 
-3.2 -12.4 392 5.9 141876 2457553 2015 
0.35 -3.10 383 6.1 142373 2381302 2016 

2.8- 3.78 366 5.6 138320 2471390 2017 
          Source: AOAD [13]. 

 

 
Figure-1. Growth rate of Arab GDP (2010-2017). 

Source: Based on Table 2. 

 



Agriculture and Food Sciences Research, 2020, 7(1): 1-6 

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Table 2 and Figure 1 shows that: 

• Agricultural sector has low contribution to Arab GDP and it ranged between 4% and 7%. 

• During 2010-2017, Arab GDP achieved highest growth rate of 17.9% in 2011, while it achieved highest 
negative growth rate of 12.4% in 2015. 

• During 2010 – 2017, per capita of agricultural GDP not exceed $ 400. 

• During 2010-2017, Arab agricultural product achieved highest growth rate of 9.4% in 2010, while it achieved 
highest negative growth rate of 3.2 % in 2015. 
 

2.3. Water Resources in Arab Countries 
Most of Arab region is located in arid and semi-arid climatic zones and it considered one of the poorest in the 

world in terms of water resources. Annual rate of water per capita is about 700m3 which is less than the water 

poverty line which is 1000 m3. 

This rate expected to decrease to 500 m3 in 2025 in light of population growth.Water resources are distributed 

between renewable surface water and groundwater reserves. All these resources are estimated at 350 billion m3 per 
year in addition to non-conventional resources, including desalination and purification water, which is estimated at 

10 billion m3per year [14]. 
 

2.3.1. Surface Water Resources 
Surface water resources in Arab countries are estimated at 296 billion m3per year of total water resources, of 

which about 50% is used.  
Agricultural sector, houses and industrial sector utilize about 88%, 7% and 5% respectively. Surface irrigation 

contributes to wasting quantities of water, increasing soil salinity, depleting nutrients and reducing land 
productivity [15]. 

 
2.3.2. Groundwater Resources 

Due to increases of demand for groundwater in Arab countries, groundwater reserves estimated at 7734 

billionm3. Also,based on the potential increase of population, volume of water resources allocated to agricultural is 

expected to rise to 378 billion m3in 2025.This indicates that water crisis in Arab countries is putting its weight on 
the issue of achieving Arab food security, which requires development and rationalization of the means of using 
water resources to intensify agricultural production. As well as work to developing and training of human resource 
and raising awareness of efficiency use of water among farmers [16]. 
 

3. Food Gap and Self-Sufficiency in Arab Countries 
Food deficit in Arab countries is related to the difference between domestic production and import (net 

imports) of different food commodities.  
The continued disparity between growth rate of agricultural production and the demand for food commodities 

led to a food gap in 2016 of $ 32981 million. Average food gap during the period (2010-2016) arrived$ 33959 
million and the gap in flour group constitutes 71.2% of the total value of Arab food gap in 2016. 
 

Table-3. Food gap and self-sufficiency of major commodity groups (2010-2016). 

Million Dollars 

2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010  
Statement Food 

Gap 
Self-
suff% 

Food 
Gap 

Self-
suff% 

Food 
Gap 

Self-
suff% 

Food 
Gap 

Self-
suff% 

Food 
Gap 

Self-
suff% 

Food 
Gap 

Self-
suff % 

Food 
Gap 

Self-
suff% 

32981 - 34932 - 38086 - 35600 - 36700 - 36000 - 35209 - Total 

18271 37.8 20783 45.1 25604 45.2 22296 51.2 24106 54.7 23003 52.1 17479 44.6 Flour 

-58 92.4 -78 103.2 -234 107.9 -100 105.1 -108 109.1 -105 106.4 -22 101.2 Potato 

2960 47.8 3227 33.8 3419 37.6 2430 32.7 2823 34.7 2623 33.7 2989 33.4 Sugar 
(refined) 

860 50.9 911 56.2 575 63.2 730 65.5 815 72.5 750 69.5 507 55.5 Legumes 

4379 32.2 3699 37.4 4471 29.1 4587 35.4 5780 38.4 5140 36.8 3987 36.8 Oils and 
Greases 

-1509 101.4 -2891 107.0 -3663 111.1 -2643 108.9 -2819 111.3 -2791 109.1 -2007 102.7 Vegetables 

-1085 101.1 -1120 104.7 -2398 109.8 -950 107.3 -973 109.9 -911 107.9 -1136 97.5 Fruits 

6957 74.8 7997 73.3 6865 78.4 7370 95.7 8760 97.1 8459 96.0 6018 95.5 Meat 

3453 78.1 3125 74.9 4252 74.2 1129 83.0 1340 86.0 1270 81.0 2088 77.7 Dairy 
Products 

417 89.1 180 95.4 114 96.6 96 97.1 98 98.5 97.0 97.3 50.0 95.6 Eggs 

-1666 116.5 -912 101.5 -918 99.2 -558 101.5 -685 108.5 -613 105.3 -499 100.7 Fish 
Source: AOAD [13] ,(-) Means Surplus, Food Gap for the years 2011 and 2012 is estimated. 

 



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Figure-2. Food gap in Arab Countries (2010-2016). 

                         Source: Based on Table 3. 

 
Table 3 and Figure 2 shows that: 
• Food gap in the consumer goods group reached highest value in 2014 of $ 38086 million and it declined to $ 

32981 million in 2016.This reflects some efforts to improve the performance of agricultural sector. 

• Food gap continued in commodity groups include flour, sugar, legumes, oils and fats, meat, dairy products 
and eggs. 

• Food gap in flour group constituted the highest during the period 2010-2017, so Arab countries failed to 
achieve self-sufficiency in this group. 

• Arab countries in 2016 achieved self-sufficiency of 116%, 101.4%, 101.1% and 92.4% with surplus of $ 1666 
million, $1509 million, $1085million and $58million in production of fish, vegetable, fruits and potatoes 
respectively. 

 

4. Conclusions 
• Despite the contribution of agricultural sector in provision of food in Arab countries, but it continued to 

record a weak performance indicator, as evidenced by low self-sufficiency rates and the persistence of food 
gap in basic commodity groups. 

• Low performance of agricultural sector can be attributed to high dependence on rain irrigation, which covers 
about 55% of the total arable areas. 

• Inefficient use of water resources contributed to wasting amounts of water that could have been directed to 
agricultural sector to help in reducing the food gap. 

• There is a growing in the food gap, which is worth paying attention, if Arab countries want to achieve food 
security and self-sufficiency. 

 

5. Recommendations 
In order to integrate agriculture and water sector to achieve Arab food security and reduce food gap, it is 

necessary to consider the following: 
• Work to use modern technology because traditional agriculture leads to poor productivity. 

• Agricultural policies should be more effective in developing agricultural sector. 

• Cooperation in the establishment and development of a scientific centers specialized in the field of 
agricultural research at the level of Arab countries. 

• It is important to pay attention to effective management of water resources to be supportive and integrated 
with agricultural policies. 

• Financing policies should be formulated to accommodate the development of agricultural and water sector in 
Arab countries. 

 

References 
[1] FAO, "Arab horizon 2030: Prospects for enhancing food security in the Arab Region, technical summary. Food and Agriculture 

Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Retrieved from https://www.unescwa.org/publications/arab-horizon-2030-prospects-
enhancing-food-security-arab-region. [Accessed 25th Nov, 2019]," 2017. 

[2] FAO, The state of food insecurity in the world 2001. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 2002. 
[3] W. A. Mohammad, "Concepts related to food security. Special files. Retrieved from: 

https://www.aljazeera.net/specialfiles/pages/3422ae4c-5f01-4a63-a108-a2349e1dd104. [Accessed 25th Nov, 2019]," 2003. 
[4] R. Talukder, "Food security, self-sufficiency and nutrition gap in Bangladesh," Bangladesh Development Studies, vol. 31, pp. 35-62, 

2005. 
[5] M. Awatif, I. SaefAlnasr, and A. M. Omer, "Policies to enhance agricultural production in Sudan. Retrieved from 

http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/files/apd/apdSRS_SABF.pdf. [Accessed 28th Nov, 2019]," 2011. 
[6] S. Najib, "Food security in Arab countries: Efficiency, productivity, and shifting dietary habits, International centre for advanced 

mediterranean agronomic studies, France," pp. 14. Retrieved from: https://www.iamm.ciheam.org/publications/183/WL32.pdf 
[Accessed 19th Nov, 2019], 2015. 

[7] A. Al-Fawwaz and A. Ahmed, "The reality of food security in the Arab world," International Journal of Asian Social Science, vol. 6, 
pp. 251-261, 2016.Available at: https://doi.org/10.18488/journal.1/2016.6.4/1.4.251.261. 

http://www.unescwa.org/publications/arab-horizon-2030-prospects-enhancing-food-security-arab-region
http://www.unescwa.org/publications/arab-horizon-2030-prospects-enhancing-food-security-arab-region
http://www.aljazeera.net/specialfiles/pages/3422ae4c-5f01-4a63-a108-a2349e1dd104
http://www.reading.ac.uk/web/files/apd/apdSRS_SABF.pdf
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[8] M. Lee, A. A. Keller, P. C. Chiang, W. Den, H. Wang, C. H. Hou, and J. Yan, "Water-energy nexus for urban water systems: A 
comparative review on energy intensity and environmental impacts in relation to global water risks," Applied Energy, vol. 205, pp. 
589-601, 2017.Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.08.002. 

[9] M. Hameed, H. Moradkhani, A. Ahmadalipour, H. Moftakhari, P. Abbaszadeh, and A. Alipour, "A review of the 21st century 
challenges in the food-energy-water security in the Middle East," Water, vol. 11, pp. 1-20, 2019.Available at: 
https://doi.org/10.3390/w11040682. 

[10] AMF, "The joint Arab economic report. Arab Monetary Fund(AMF),United Arab Emirate," pp. 5. Retrieved from: 
https://www.amf.org.ae/en/content/joint-arab-economic-report-2018-brief-english-version. [Accessed 14th Nov, 2019], 2018. 

[11] Ibid, "The Joint Arab economic report," p. 49, 2018. 
[12] AMF, "The Joint Arab economic report  for the years 2010-2017.Arab Monetary Fund (AMF),United Arab Emirate. Retrieved 

from: https://www.amf.org.ae/ar/jointrep," 2010-2017. 
[13] AOAD, "Report on the state of agriculture in Arab countries, Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD). Retrieved 

from http://www.aoad.org/eng/enews24nov2019-11.htm," 2018. 
[14] AMF, "The Joint Arab economic report for the year. Arab Monetary Fund (AMF), United Arab Emirate," p. 54. Retrieved from: 

https://www.amf.org.ae/ar/jointrep, 2016. 
[15] Ibid, "The Joint Arab economic report," p. 51, 2016. 
[16] Ibid, "The Joint Arab economic report," p. 55, 2016. 

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

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