Pioneering Development Initiatives in Al-‘Adhayma Village, Luxor: Regenerative Agriculture and Smart Irrigation Applications
Al-‘Adhayma village, known among Luxor residents as “the land of kindness and beauty,” is considered one of the poorest villages in Upper Egypt. This reality encouraged the Coptic Association for Social Care to select it for implementing the project “Regenerative Agriculture Applications to Address Climate Change Impacts,” funded by the Small Grants Program (GEF/SGP), to serve the residents of the village, located in Esna district, southern Luxor Governorate.
The project aims to improve and maintain soil and agricultural land quality, promote sustainable farming practices, and empower women and youth to adopt food security strategies and resilience to climate change. As part of this effort, a specialized six-day workshop was held with the participation of over 60 women from Al-‘Adhayma village, training them in techniques for recycling agricultural waste and transforming it into innovative, economically valuable products—providing an additional source of income to improve local livelihoods.
To further improve life in Al-‘Adhayma, a training program was conducted for 40 farmers on regenerative agriculture techniques and smart irrigation systems. The farmers received scientific information on drought- and pest-resistant crops, and were introduced to methods for better management of natural resources such as water and soil. The training also covered composting techniques as an alternative to burning agricultural waste.
The association also organized a field tour to visit the agricultural lands of several smallholder farmers benefiting from the project. The tour included monitoring wheat fields and identifying challenges such as soil salinity. A team of experts provided technical solutions to improve soil quality and boost productivity. The tour also included inspection of solar-powered irrigation systems to ensure efficient water use and reduce environmental impact—reflecting the project’s commitment to supporting small-scale farmers.
In the first week of December 2024, the association launched a beekeeping initiative in Al-‘Adhayma village to improve farmers’ livelihoods by enhancing and marketing local honey production. The initiative also provides job opportunities for village residents, promotes biodiversity, and preserves ecosystems. It supports sustainable production chains and highlights the vital role of bees in pollinating plants, thereby improving crop yield and quality.