Desert
Development Centre (DDC)
Founded: 1979
Head: Dr. Mohamed
Ahmed Sabbah, Director
Address:
16 lbn Thakeb
St, Zamalek,
P.O. Box: 2551
Telephone: 202-730771 2/10/20/21
Facsimile: 202-7307715,
7377571
E-mail: masabbah@aucegypt.edu
Web site: www.aucegypt.etu/graduates/ddc/ddc.html
Institutional framework:
Non-governmental, National
Working Languages:
Arabic, English
Areas of activity:
Applied
science and technology: Agriculture
and natural resources
Number of staff:
Research
professionals: 14
Support
professionals: 24
Technicians: 28
DDC'S mission is to improve the social and economic wellbeing
of new desert settlers, through the use of research, training and related
activities which integrate among agriculture, renewable energy and community
aspects in order to achieve sustainability through increased productivity, profitability,
diversity of output and conservation of natural resources.
DDC has adopted four major strategic issues:
- Water management in the
new lands and on-farm, water- use efficiency under different desert farming
systems;
- Environmental impacts of
desert developmental activities;
- Socio-economic impacts of
desert development activities;
- Training of current and
potential desert settlers.
Organizational structure:
DDC carries out research activities through the
following units:
- Desert Agriculture Unit;
- Desert Community Unit;
- Desert Technology and
Renewable Energy Unit.
R and D activities/schemes:
DDC conducts applied multi-disciplinary research in the
felt of desert development. The programme covers
biological, technological and community aspects of desert development, focusing
on alternative, economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally
sustainable approaches.
The Desert Agriculture Unit conducts agricultural
research in desert areas, including studies in the following areas: Water resources
management; soil management and plant rotations; deforestation and desertification
control; field crops and horticulture; plant/soil/water/energy relations; and fodder/animal/biogas
systems for desert development.
The Desert Community Unit is specifically concerned
with the suitability of new technologies, facilities, systems and policies to
desert development. It analyzes previous and contemporary social, economic and
architectural experiences, helping to establish socio-economic research
frameworks. Areas of activity include: agricultural marketing, pricing and
credit; cost factors in new technologies and techniques; social organization
and dynamics of agricultural labor; farmer's decision-making processes; role of
social and cultural factors in acceptance of new technologies; settler
selection criteria; tenancy, land allocation and optimal holdings; housing
design, including function, self-sufficiency and attractiveness. Project
follow-up and evaluation are conducted. Present emphasis is on socio-economic aspects
of water and energy policies, management, distribution, pricing and subsidy.
The Desert Technology and Renewable Energy Unit
investigates and develops technologies adapted to desert environments with
special emphasis on water and energy conservation for the benefit of desert
communities. Areas of study include: irrigation systems, agricultural and
processing machinery; desalination; soil treatment to decrease water
infiltration and wind erosion; and passive solar architecture. The Unit also
tests the efficiency and durability of renewable energy systems, including
solar energy, wind energy, biomass and biotas, as
well as hybrid systems and adapts them for desert agriculture, industry and
housing.
Training activities:
- Regular Training Programmes: Short training programmes
have been developed by DDC since 1586 covering basic concepts of desert
agriculture and technology, renewable energy and socio-economic aspects of
farming systems. Examples of the training courses offered in the last few years
are: Sustainable Desert Development: An Overview; Desert Farming Systems;
Animal Husbandry under Desert Farming Systems; Fodder and Field Crops;
Vegetable Farming in the Desert; Horticulture: Fruits and Vegetables;
Irrigation and Fertilization Techniques in Desert Farming; Renewable Energy for
Desert Development; Practical Training in Aril Land, Forest Trees, Nursery
Operations; Windbreaks Establishment and Management. These courses are offered
annually to Egyptian and non-Egyptian participants. - Tailored Short Training
Courses: DDC overs tailored training programmes designed upon the request of the participants or
the sponsors, Training programmes on poultry
production, tissue culture techniques, soil and water analysis and others have
been overed.
- Desert Agribusiness Training
Programmes: DDC offers special training programmes in desert agribusiness to investors and workers
in desert agriculture who wish to develop or promote their knowledge in certain
areas of desert agriculture and do not have the time to attend regular training
programmes. These training programmes
are in the form of evening lectures and weekend visits to DDC farms and private
farms.
- Training Programmes for University Graduates in desert agriculture
are funded by the ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, through the 416-B/L
WAID funds.
- Weekend Family Training Programmes: DDC invites desert investors and workers and
their families to spend a weekend or more on the farm to combine business with
pleasure.
Hands-on-training and capsule
information are provided, while family members are having fun on the farm.
Meetings, conferences and seminars:
DDC holds Desert Development Seminars Series on a monthly
basis for researchers, policymakers and felt officers, in addition to an
International Development Conference.
Public services:
DDC provides services to desert settlers and investors
in general and those in immediate vicinity, in particular. DDC interacts with
all levels of settlers and investors including small farmers and beneficiaries,
university and intermediate- school graduates and small and large investors.
In addition, DDC provides the following services:
- Land survey and soil, water and plant chemical and physical
analyses;
- Soil, water and plant microbiological analysis
(nematode, insects, mold, rot and pathogenic);
- Introduction of high quality products, developed by
research and as research results. Tissue culture products and special fruit and
wood-trees seedlings are good examples;
- Consultancy and advisory have been provided to all
levels of settlers and investors. The main office in
- Extension and outreach services are provided to
farmers and investors through on-and off-farm demonstrations, meetings and
pamphlets.
Publications:
Non-recurrent: Findings are published as research reports and
proceedings. In addition, the Institute published a series of training
textbooks and manuals in Arabic covering all disciplines in desert agriculture
including:
- Soil and Water,
Fertilization and Irrigation in Desert and New Lands;
- Field Crops in Desert and
New Lands;
- Small Enterprises in
Desert and New Lands;
- Animal Production and
Poultry in Desert and New Lands;
- Agricultural Pests and Pesticides
in the Desert and New Lands;
- Desert Agribusiness;
- Fruit Production in Desert
and New Lands;
- Vegetables Production and
Greenhouse Technology in Desert and New Lands;
- Ornamentals, Medicinal and
Aromatic Plants and Wood Trees in Desert and New Lands,
Recurrent:
Desert Development Digest (quarterly).
Links to other organizations:
DDC has established cooperative relationships with
experts and research institutions for assistance in applied research, training
and demonstration activities. These include the Ministry of Housing and New
Communities; the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation and its
Agricultural Research Centre; the Ministry of Electricity and Energy; the National
Research Centre; the University of Alexandria; the University of Arizona; North
Carolina State University; Texas Tech University (ICASALS); and a number of
experts from the National Faculties of Agriculture and Engineering of Cairo,
Alexandria, Ain Shams, Tanta and Zagazig
universities.
Parent body/affiliations:
DDC is affiliated to the
Main research facilities/equipment available:
In addition to well-equipped on-campus classrooms in
Cairo, the DDC has two training sites equipped with the following: - Satat Site: A laboratory well-equipped for chemical and
physical analysis of soil, water and plant; a tissue culture laboratory and
propagation areas; a plant clinic for diagnosis and treatment of plant diseases
and infection and of soil infestation; greenhouse technology for vegetables,
ornamenting and seedlings production; greenhouse irrigation systems; solar
photovoltaic panels and systems for lighting and water pumping; solar drying
system; solar water heater systems.
South-Tahrir Site:
Well-prepared classrooms equipped with necessary audio-visual aids; a ltlo-fatltlan training orchard with several varieties of
fruit trees and training patterns, using trip irrigation systems; a 'lo-fat-clan
of ornamental trees and plants; four models of farming systems and crop
rotations for small farms (5-10 faddans); three
motels of desert housing using passive solar energy; an open (field with all
possible sprinkler irrigation systems; a variety of wood trees (casuarinas, acacia.
and eucalyptus in plantations and as windbreaks); honey production unit;
Poultry production units; Dairy processing pilot plant; Natural silk production
unit.
Funding:
Sources: Core funding is provided by the American university in
Information sources:
- www.aucegypt.edu/graduates/tdc/jtc.html
- International Research Centers Directory 1994-1995