Economic and Marketing Efficiency of Onion and Garlic Crops in Egypt (A case Study: Fayoum Governorate)

1. 1.     INTRODUCTION:

The agricultural sector is one of the key economic sectors in Egypt, contributing significantly to the national income. It is also one of the primary production sectors that provide food for the population and raw materials for important agricultural processing industries in Egypt. Additionally, the agriculture sector absorbs a large portion of the labor force, and agricultural exports play a crucial role in generating foreign currency for the country. Onion is one of the crops that provides farmers with a substantial income, particularly in seed production, and it is also one of the key crops that contribute to increasing foreign currency revenues. Egypt is one of the world's leading exporters of onions, with Egyptian onion exports being significant due to their earlier availability compared to European onions. Similarly, garlic is an important vegetable crop, planted during the Nili season in September and October, either as a standalone crop or intercropped with other crops. Garlic is also one of Egypt’s export vegetable crops, highlighting the importance of onion and garlic in generating substantial income for farmers, thereby improving their livelihoods.

The average cultivated area for onion and garlic crops in Egypt was approximately 148.8 and 34.2 thousand feddans, respectively, with around 12.7 and 5.8 thousand feddans in Fayoum Governorate, respectively. The average total production of these two crops in Egypt amounted to approximately 2.210 and 463.5 thousand tons, respectively, with Fayoum Governorate contributing approximately 178.3 and 60.1 thousand tons during the average period (2008-2022). This underscores the relative importance of onion and garlic cultivation in Fayoum Governorate compared to the rest of Egypt during the study period. [1].

The research problem Despite the significance of onion and garlic crops in the crop composition, both for local consumption and export, a noticeable decline has been observed recently in the cultivated area of onions and garlic in Fayoum Governorate. The cultivated area decreased from approximately 19.7 and 18.1 thousand feddans, respectively, in the 2021/2022 season to about 18.1 and 8.20 thousand feddans, respectively, in the 2022/2023 season. This calls for a study of the reasons behind this decline and the identification of the problems facing producers, as it affects the economic and marketing efficiency of those crop producers in Fayoum Governorate.

The research aims to improve the efficiency of resource utilization in the production of onion and garlic crops to achieve the maximum possible return, as these crops are characterized by fast cash returns and are considered promising export crops. The study seeks to identify the optimal methods for utilizing production inputs for these crops in Fayoum Governorate to increase their production with high quality, and to examine the key economic and marketing challenges. The research will also provide recommendations for solutions that may help increase the production of the crops under study.

1. 2.     MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The study employed both descriptive and quantitative statistical analysis methods, in addition to using the simple linear model to estimate the annual growth rates of economic variables. The SPSS software was utilized to estimate economic and marketing efficiency, as well as to determine the amount of resources that achieved economic efficiency in the cultivation of onion and garlic crops. Furthermore, the study examined the difference between the average actual quantities of resources used and the optimal quantities that achieved economic efficiency in the sample, with the aim of identifying the farms that efficiently utilized resources and determining which of the two crops is more favorable for farmers.

The study depends on both published and unpublished data available in economic and statistical bulletins issued by the Economic Affairs Sector of the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as data from the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) and the Agriculture Directorate in Fayoum Governorate. Additionally, the study primarily depends on section data obtained from some farmers cultivating the two crops under study in Fayoum Governorate, using a questionnaire designed for this purpose during the 2022/2023 season.

1. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS:

- Development of Production Indicators for Onion and Garlic Crops in Egypt and Fayoum Governorate:

Approximately 85% of the onion crop area is concentrated in nine governorates (Gharbia, Dakahlia, Sharqia, Sohag, Beni Suef, Beheira, Nubariya, Qalyubia, and Fayoum) during the (2022/2023) production season. Based on the ranking of governorates by their relative contribution to the total cultivated area, it was found that Gharbia Governorate ranks first, contributing about 51.6 thousand feddans, representing approximately 22.1% of the average total cultivated area of onions in Egypt. Dakahlia Governorate ranks second, contributing around 34.5 thousand feddans, or 13.5% of the national total, while Sharqia Governorate ranks third with an average area of about 22.3 thousand feddans, representing 9.5%. Fayoum Governorate accounts for approximately 18.1 thousand feddans, representing about 7.8% of the total onion area in Egypt during the (2022/2023) season [2].

Similarly, around 90.5% of the garlic crop area is concentrated in nine governorates (Beni Suef, Minya, Nubariya, Beheira, Giza, Dakahlia, Assiut, Aswan, and Fayoum) during the average period of (2020-2022). Based on the ranking of governorates by their relative contribution to the total cultivated area, Beni Suef Governorate ranks first, contributing around 20.2 thousand feddans, or about 39.9% of the national total garlic area. Minya Governorate ranks second, contributing approximately 9.3 thousand feddans, representing about 18.2% of the total, while Giza Governorate ranks third with an average area of about 2.4 thousand feddans, or about 4.7%. Fayoum Governorate contributes around 8.2 thousand feddans, representing about 1.6% of the total garlic area in Egypt during the average period (2020-2022) [3].

- Development of Production Indicators for Onion in Egypt and Fayoum Governorate:
Table (1) shows the development of the total cultivated area, yield per feddan, and total production of onions in Egypt and Fayoum Governorate for the period (2008-2022). The average cultivated area of onions in Egypt reached approximately 168.56 thousand feddans, while in Fayoum Governorate, it amounted to about 15.15 thousand feddans, representing around 8.99% of the total onion area in Egypt.

Table (1): Evolution of Economic Indicators of Onion Crop in EGYPT and Fayoum Governorate for the period (2008-2022)

Source: Compiled from: Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Central Administration of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Statistics Bulletins, various issues.                                        

and the Directorate of Agriculture in Fayoum, the Information and Decision Support Center, unpublished data, various numbers.

Table (2) indicates that the cultivated area exhibited a statistically significant increasing trend of about 8.61 and 0.70 thousand feddans for Egypt and Fayoum, respectively, with an annual growth rate of approximately 5.42% and 4.10% for each. Additionally, Table (1) reveals that the average yield per feddan for onions in Egypt and Fayoum reached approximately 15.1 and 13.5 tons, respectively. Table (2) shows a statistically significant upward trend in yield per feddan, reaching about 15.09 and 15.10 tons per feddan for Egypt and Fayoum, respectively, with an annual increase of around 0.90% and 1.95% for each.

Furthermore, Table (1) shows that the average total onion production in Egypt and Fayoum was about 2,561.31 and 229.85 thousand tons, respectively. According to Table (2), total production also exhibited a statistically significant increasing trend, amounting to around 148.79 and 11.78 thousand tons for Egypt and Fayoum, respectively, with an annual growth rate of approximately 6.27% and 8.12% for each.

Table (2): Equations of the General Time Trend of Development of Economic Indicators of the Onion Cropin Egypt and Fayoum Governorate During the Period (2008-2022)

Where: (i) the time factor in years as an independent variable, where e (1, 2, ... , 15).

**Indicates moral at (0.01) * Indicates moral at (0.05).

Source: Collected and calculated from the data contained in Table (1).

Fig.1. Evolution of Onion Crop Economic Indicators in Egypt and Fayoum Governorate (2008-2022)

Source: Table (1).

Fig. 2. Evolution of Economic Indicators of Garlic Crop in Egypt and Fayoum Governorate for the Period (2008-2022)

Source: Table (3).

-Development of Production Indicators for Garlic in Egypt and Fayoum Governorate:
Table (3) shows the development of the total cultivated area, yield per feddan, and total production of garlic in Egypt during the period (2008-2022). It shows that the average total area cultivated with garlic in Egypt and Fayoum Governorate was approximately 33.83 and 5.96 thousand feddans, respectively. Table (4) indicates that the cultivated area has shown a statistically significant increasing trend, with an annual increase of about 1.12 and 0.39 thousand feddans, representing an annual growth rate of approximately 3.59% and 7.62%, respectively.

As shown in Table (3), the average yield per feddan of garlic in Egypt and Fayoum Governorate was approximately 9.91 and 9.48 tons, respectively. Table (4) reveals that the yield per feddan for the same crop at the national level and in Fayoum Governorate exhibited a statistically significant increasing trend, reaching around 0.10 and 0.14 tons per feddan, with an annual growth rate of about 1.20% and 2.49%, respectively.

Additionally, Table (3) shows that the average total production of garlic in Egypt and Fayoum Governorate was approximately 335.36 and 57.63 thousand tons, respectively. Table (4) indicates that total production displayed a statistically significant increasing trend, amounting to around 13.59 and 4.76 thousand tons, with an annual growth rate of about 3.18% and 9.78%, respectively.

Table (3): Evolution of Economic Indicators of Garlic Crop in Egypt and Fayoum Governoratefor the Period (2008-2022)

Source: Compiled from: Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Central Administration of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Statistics Bulletins, various issues [1].                                        

and the Directorate of Agriculture in Fayoum, the Information and Decision Support Center, unpublished data, various numbers.

Table (4) Equations of the General Time Trend of the Development of Economic Indicators of the Garlic Crop in Egypt and Fayoum Governorate During the Period (2008-2022)

where i: the time factor in years as an independent variable, where i (1, 2, ... , 15).

• **Indicates moral at (0.01). * Indicates the moral at the level of (0.05).

Source: Collected and calculated from the data in Table (3).

- Economics of Onion and Garlic Production in the Study Sample from Fayoum Governorate:

This part discusses the economics of onion and garlic production in the study sample from Fayoum Governorate. It covers a description of the study sample and examines the production and economic indicators of onion and garlic crops in Fayoum Governorate for the 2022/2023 production season.

- Description of the Study Sample:

Description of the Study Sample for Onion in Fayoum Governorate for the 2022/2023 Season:

      A multi-stage stratified random sampling method was relied to collect primary data through a questionnaire during the 2022/2023 agricultural season, which included approximately 120 farmers cultivating onions. The centers for the study sample were selected based on the relative importance of the cultivated area for the crops in Fayoum Governorate.

      As indicated in Table (5), the total cultivated area for onions in Fayoum Governorate was approximately 18.10 thousand feddans. The areas for the centers of Youssef El-Sedek and Tamiya were approximately 4,800 and 4,200 feddans, respectively, representing about 26.52% and 23.20% of the total onion area cultivated in Fayoum Governorate for the 2022/2023 production season.

      In Youssef El-Sedek centers, the cultivated onion area in old and new lands was approximately 1,885 and 1,884 feddans, respectively, representing about 39.27% and 23.25% of the total onion area cultivated in this center. In Tamiya, the cultivated onion area in old and new lands was approximately 1,699 and 1,637 feddans, respectively, with these areas representing around 40.45% and 38.98% of the total onion area cultivated in Tamiya for the 2022/2023 season.

Fig. 3. Egypt map showing El-Faiyum governorates

Table (5): Total Cultivated Area of Onion Crop in Fayoum Governorate for the Season (2022/2023)

Source: Information and Decision Support Center, Directorate of Agriculture in Fayoum Governorate Unpublished data. Production season 2022/2023.

-Characterization of the Study Sample for the Garlic Crop in Fayoum Governorate for the 2022/2023 Season:

It is evident from Table (6) that the total cultivated area of garlic in Fayoum Governorate in 2023 reached about 8.2 thousand feddans. Youssef El-Siddiq district ranked first with approximately 2.4 thousand feddans, representing about 29% of the total garlic cultivation area in Fayoum Governorate, followed by Fayoum district in second place with around 2.2 thousand feddans, representing about 26.8% of the total area. For the garlic crop study sample, 120 individuals were selected and evenly distributed between the old and new lands in Youssef El-Siddiq district and Fayoum district. The area of garlic cultivated in Youssef El-Siddiq district for the old lands and new lands was approximately 542 and 599 feddans, representing about 22.5% and 24.9% respectively, of the total garlic cultivation area in Youssef El-Siddiq district. In Fayoum district, the area cultivated with garlic in the old lands and new lands was approximately 939 and 807 feddans, representing about 42.6% and 36.6% respectively, of the total garlic cultivation area in Fayoum district for the 2022/2023 season.

Table (6): Total Cultivated Area of Garlic Crop in Fayoum Governorate for the Season (2022/2023)

Source: Information and Decision Support Center, Directorate of Agriculture in Fayoum Governorate Unpublished data. Production season 2022/2023 [14].

3.1. Economic Efficiency Indicators for Production Factors of Onion and Garlic Crops in Fayoum Governorate:

Economic efficiency refers to the ability to achieve the maximum value from the resources used in crop production, ensuring a better standard of living for farmers and the local community. The economic efficiency of production factors for onion and garlic crops in the study sample was estimated by dividing the marginal value product of each production factor by its unit price [5]. If this value exceeds one, it indicates that economic efficiency is achieved from using this factor in the production process, and there is potential to increase the quantity used to boost productivity, within the limits of its production flexibility. Conversely, if the value falls below one, it suggests that the production factor is used more intensively than its economic limit, necessitating a reduction in its quantity to achieve economic efficiency [6].

3.1.1. Economic Efficiency Indicators for Production Factors of Onion Crop in Fayoum Governorate:

The relationship between the marginal value product and the price of the production factor was studied to determine the economic efficiency of onion crops in Youssef El-Siddiq and Tamiya districts for the production season (2022/2023), as shown in Table (7). The findings are as follows:

- Youssef El-Siddiq District (Old Lands):

 The elasticity of production for the main factors affecting the productivity per feddan of onion crops in the old lands of Youssef El-Siddiq district was calculated for manure, number of seedlings, and potassium fertilizer, with values of approximately 0.06, 0.30, and 0.20 respectively. This indicates that these factors are used in the economic phase (the second phase of the Law of Diminishing Returns), and that farmers have not reached the optimal production stage. The overall elasticity was estimated at approximately 0.56, reflecting an increase in returns to scale, meaning that the quantities of these factors can be increased within their production flexibility.

The economic efficiency of onion production in the old lands for the aforementioned factors was estimated at approximately 4.3, 2.8, and 2.0 respectively, indicating that economic efficiency is achieved from using these factors in the production process of onion crops in the old lands of Youssef El-Siddiq district, reflecting an increase in returns to scale.

- Youssef El-Siddiq District (New Lands): The elasticity of production for the main factors affecting the productivity per feddan of onion crops in the new lands of Youssef El-Siddiq district was estimated for potassium fertilizer, nutrients per feddan, and human labor, with values of approximately 0.06, 0.10, and 0.50 respectively. This indicates that these factors are used in the economic phase (the second phase of the Law of Diminishing Returns), and that farmers have not reached the optimal production stage. The overall elasticity was estimated at approximately 0.66, reflecting an increase in returns to scale, meaning that the quantities of these factors can be increased within their production flexibility.

The economic efficiency of the production factors for onions in the new lands was estimated at approximately 1.0%, 2.7%, and 3.5% respectively. This indicates that economic efficiency is achieved from using these factors in the production process of onion crops in the new lands of Youssef El-Siddiq district, suggesting that there is potential to increase the quantities used to boost productivity, within the limits of the production flexibility of these factors.

Table (7): Economic Efficiency Indicators of the Production Elements of the Onion Crop in the Study Sample for the season 2022/2023

Source: Collected and calculated from the study sample in Fayoum Governorate for the productive season 2022/2023.

-        Tamiya District (Old Lands): The elasticity of production for the main factors affecting the productivity per feddan of onion crops in the old lands of Tamiya district was estimated for phosphate fertilizer, potassium fertilizer, and nutrients per feddan, with values of approximately 0.06, 0.24, and 0.11 respectively. and that farmers have not reached the optimal production stage. The overall elasticity was estimated at approximately 0.41, reflecting an increase in returns to scale, meaning that the quantities of these factors can be increased within their production flexibility.

The economic efficiency of the production factors for onions in the old lands of Tamiya district was estimated at approximately 2.1%, 2.2%, and 3.1% respectively. This indicates that economic efficiency is achieved from using these factors in the production process of onion crops, suggesting that there is potential to increase the quantities used to boost productivity, within the limits of their production flexibility.

- Tamiya District (New Lands): The elasticity of production for the main factors affecting the productivity per feddan of onion crops in the new lands of Tamiya district was estimated for irrigation quantity and nutrients per feddan, with values of approximately 0.2 and 0.11 respectively. This indicates that these factors are used in the economic phase (the second phase of the Law of Diminishing Returns), and that farmers have not reached the optimal production stage. The overall elasticity was estimated at approximately 6.9, reflecting an increase in returns to scale, meaning that the quantities of these factors can be increased within their production flexibility.

The economic efficiency of the production factors for onions in the new lands of Tamiya district was estimated at approximately 4.6% and 2.3% respectively for irrigation quantity and nutrients per feddan. This indicates that economic efficiency is achieved from using these factors in the production process of onion crops, suggesting that there is potential to increase the quantities used to boost productivity, within the limits of their production flexibility.

3.1.2. Economic Efficiency Indicators for Garlic Production Factors in Fayoum Governorate:

By studying the relationship between marginal product value and the price of the production factor to obtain the economic efficiency for garlic production in Youssef El-Siddiq and Fayoum districts for the production season (2022/2023), as shown in Table (8), the following is observed:

- Youssef El-Siddiq District (Old Lands): The elasticity of production for garlic production factors in the old lands of Youssef El-Siddiq district was estimated for organic fertilizer, machine working hours, and phosphate fertilizer, with values of approximately 0.12, 0.17, and 0.17 respectively. This indicates that these factors are used in the economic phase (the second phase of the Law of Diminishing Returns), and that farmers have not reached the optimal production stage. The overall elasticity was estimated at approximately 0.46, reflecting an increase in returns to scale, meaning that the quantities of these factors can be increased within their production flexibility.

The economic efficiency of the garlic production factors mentioned above was estimated at approximately 5.2%, 4.8%, and 3.6% respectively.

This indicates that economic efficiency is achieved from using these factors in the production process of garlic in the old lands of Youssef El-Siddiq district, suggesting that there is potential to increase the quantities used to boost productivity, within the limits of their production flexibility.

- Youssef El-Siddiq District (New Lands): The elasticity of production for garlic production factors in the new lands of Youssef El-Siddiq district was estimated for organic fertilizer and potassium fertilizer, with values of approximately 0.11 and 0.23 respectively. This indicates that these factors are used in the economic phase (the second phase of the Law of Diminishing Returns), and that farmers have not reached the optimal production stage. The overall elasticity was estimated at approximately 0.34, reflecting an increase in returns to scale, meaning that the quantities of these factors can be increased within their production flexibility.

The economic efficiency of the garlic production factors mentioned above was estimated at approximately 4.6% and 5.3% respectively. This indicates that economic efficiency is achieved from using these factors in the production process of garlic in the new lands of Youssef El-Siddiq district, suggesting that there is potential to increase the quantities used to boost productivity, within the limits of their production flexibility.

- Fayoum District (Old Lands): The elasticity of production for garlic production factors in the old lands of Fayoum district was estimated for organic fertilizer, phosphate fertilizer, and nutrients per feddan, with values of approximately 0.13, 0.15, and 0.14 respectively. This indicates that these factors are used in the economic phase (the second phase of the Law of Diminishing Returns), and that farmers have not reached the optimal production stage. The overall elasticity was estimated at approximately 0.42, reflecting an increase in returns to scale, meaning that the quantities of these factors can be increased within their production flexibility.

The economic efficiency of the garlic production factors mentioned above was estimated at approximately 5.7%, 3.4%, and 5.2% respectively. This indicates that economic efficiency is achieved from using these factors in the production process of garlic in the old lands of Fayoum district, suggesting that there is potential to increase the quantities used to boost productivity, within the limits of their production flexibility.

Table (8): Economic efficiency indicators of the production elements of the Garlic crop in the study sample for the season 2022/2023

Source:Collected and calculated from the study sample in Fayoum Governorate for the productive season 2022/2023.

- Fayoum District (New Lands): The elasticity of production for garlic production factors in the new lands of Fayoum district was estimated for seed quantity and nitrogen fertilizer, with values of approximately 0.11 and 0.14 respectively. This indicates that these factors are used in the economic phase (the second phase of the Law of Diminishing Returns), and that farmers have not reached the optimal production stage. The overall elasticity was estimated at approximately 0.25, reflecting an increase in returns to scale, meaning that the quantities of these factors can be increased within their production flexibility.

The economic efficiency of the garlic production factors mentioned above was estimated at approximately 1.2% and 1.4% respectively. This indicates that economic efficiency is achieved from using these factors in the production process of garlic in the new lands of Fayoum district, suggesting that there is potential to increase the quantities used to boost productivity, within the limits of their production flexibility.

3.2. Marketing Efficiency Indicators for Onion and Garlic Crops in Fayoum Governorate for the 2022/2023 Growing Season:

- Profitability of the Invested Pound: This refers to the net return achieved per pound spent on all the components of the total costs necessary to complete the production process. The higher the value of this indicator, the greater the profitability of the pound spent in the production process, indicating economic efficiency in production [7].

Profitability of the Invested Pound = Net Crop Return / Total Production Costs

- Marketing Efficiency is a true indicator of the performance of marketing services, which depends on the marketing system, consisting of producers, intermediaries, and consumers. The goals of each differ to fulfil their desires producers and intermediaries aim to maximize their profits, while consumers aim to obtain goods at the lowest price. Below are the key concepts and formulas related to marketing efficiency:

Marketing Margin: This is synonymous with marketing costs and refers to what intermediaries earn in return for providing marketing services for the crop (such as costs for sorting, grading, collecting, packaging, transporting, selling, buying, converting, plus the profits earned by intermediaries or minus their losses) during the marketing chain from the farmer to the final consumer, including all intermediary wages. The importance of studying marketing costs lies in comparing them with production costs or achievable prices, studying the distribution of marketing costs among intermediaries and marketing functions, formulating marketing policies based on the study of marketing costs, and attempting to minimize marketing costs while maintaining marketing efficiency for goods and products [8]. The total marketing costs (absolute price spread) are expressed by the price spread, where:

- Price Spread of the First Link (Share of the Wholesale Trader) = Wholesale Price – Farm Price.

- Price Spread of the Second Link (Share of the Retail Trader) = Retail Price – Wholesale Price.

- Total Price Spread = Price Spread of the First Link + Price Spread of the Second Link [9].

Distribution of the Consumer's Pound: This refers to how one pound of the final consumer price paid by the consumer is distributed among the producer or farmer, the wholesale trader, the retail trader, and the marketing functions (collection, transportation, etc.), and the share each receives from this pound, where:

- Farmer's Share of the Consumer Pound (%) = (Farm Price / Retail Price) * 100.

- Wholesale Trader's Share of the Consumer Pound (%) = (Wholesale Trader's Share / Retail Price) * 100.

- Retail Trader's Share of the Consumer Pound (%) = (Retail Trader's Share / Retail Price) * 100.

Price Markup: Sometimes referred to as the price increase rate, it is calculated as:

Price Markup = (Price Spread (Absolute Price Difference) / Farm Price) * 100.

- Marketing Efficiency refers to performing marketing functions optimally, with the lowest marketing costs, and at the right time. High marketing efficiency indicates reduced marketing costs, increased product prices, and lower consumer prices, and vice versa.

Marketing efficiency reflects both: Technological Efficiency: This involves using the best scientific and practical means to perform marketing functions such as transportation, storage, cooling, grading [9].

- Economic Efficiency: This refers to the behavior of the producer and consumer and how goods and products reach the consumer in the right form, time, place, and price, as well as the markets dealing with the goods [10].

Marketing efficiency can be calculated as follows:

Marketing Efficiency (%) = 100 - ((Marketing Costs per Ton) / (Marketing Costs per Ton + Production Costs per Ton)) * 100. [11]

3.2.1. Marketing Efficiency Indicators for Onion Crop in Fayoum Governorate:

Table (9) outlines the key marketing indicators for the onion crop in the study sample, across both old and new lands, in Yousef Al-Siddique and Tamia Districts in Fayoum Governorate for the 2022/2023 growing season as follows: The results from Table (9) indicate that the profitability of the pound invested in onion crops in the old and new lands in Yousef Al-Siddique District was approximately 1.4 and 1.59 EGP per feddan, respectively. In Tamia District, it was estimated at around 1.2 and 1.4 EGP per feddan, indicating a decline in the economic efficiency of onion crops in Fayoum Governorate for the 2022/2023 growing season.

Additionally, the marketing efficiency of onion crops in the old and new lands in Yousef Al-Siddique District was estimated at 20.9% and 18.2%, respectively, while in Tamia District, it was estimated at 22.2% and 19.2%. This reflects the high marketing costs compared to the production costs per ton of onions and the inefficiency of the local marketing system for onions in Fayoum Governorate. This inefficiency is due to the high share of intermediaries, which was estimated at 61.07% and 63.38% for the old and new lands, respectively, in Yousef Al-Siddique District, and around 60.5% and 63.2% for the old and new lands in Tamia District. Therefore, there is a need to work on improving the farmer's share to raise the living standards of these farmers and their ability to cover production costs, ultimately enhancing the efficiency of the local marketing system for this crop.

Table (9): Marketing efficiency indicators for Onion crop in Fayoum Governorate for the productive season 2022/2023

Source: Collected and calculated from the study sample in Fayoum Governorate for the productive season 2022/2023.

3.2.2. Marketing Efficiency Indicators for Garlic in Fayoum Governorate:

Table (10) highlights the key marketing indicators for the garlic crop in the study sample, covering both old and new lands in Yousef Al-Siddique and Fayoum Districts in Fayoum Governorate for the 2022/2023 growing season, as follows:

The results from Table (10) show that the profitability of the invested pound for garlic in old and new lands in Yousef Al-Siddique District was approximately 0.73 and 0.84 pounds per feddan, respectively. In Fayoum District, it was estimated at around 0.74 and 0.77 pounds per feddan, respectively. This suggests a decrease in economic efficiency for the garlic crop in Fayoum Governorate for the 2022/2023 growing season.

Additionally, the marketing efficiency for garlic in old and new lands in Yousef Al-Siddique District was found to be approximately 23.7% and 22.3%, respectively. In Fayoum District, it was estimated at around 23.19% and 23.98%, respectively. This indicates high marketing costs relative to the production costs per ton of garlic, revealing inefficiencies in the local marketing system for this crop in Fayoum Governorate. The share of intermediaries was estimated at approximately 64.9% and 65.2% for old and new lands, respectively, in Yousef Al-Siddique District, and about 65.5% and 64.2% in Fayoum District. This calls for efforts to improve the farmers' share to enhance their standard of living and ability to cover production costs, ultimately leading to improved efficiency of the local marketing system for this crop.

Table (10): Marketing efficiency indicators for Garlic crop in Fayoum Governorate for the productive season 2022/2023

Source: Collected and calculated from the study sample in Fayoum Governorate for the productive season 2022/2023.