Interview on 29 Jan 2007
Mut, Dakhla
Ustaz Gaber
Has been working for the gam3a zar3a in Dakhla for 17 years
This particular gam3a in Dakhla has 540 members. These members pay L.E. 1 (per month? can’t read my notes here…) for their membership. There is a total of 19 agricultural cooperatives in Dakhla. Each of these has one manager, such as Ustaz Gaber.
The gam3a provides fertilizer (asmidda) – such as Superphosphat, Yuria and Natarat – as well as seeds and pesticides. The Superphosphat is produced by a company in Cairo (Abu Za’abel), the Yuria and Natarat come from Alexandria (from the company Abu Ir). In terms of seeds, the gam3a provides wheat and rice (rice in winter), the prices of these vary all the time. In case farmers require other types of seeds, they have to buy these independently.
The cooperative also rents out machines for spraying pesticides at L.E. 10 per tank. It also rents out machines for other agricultural practices (garar, makinat zara3, gars tahsien). It buys most crops off farmers, for example rice etc. If farmers want to sell their produce in Cairo, Assiut, etc, it is easiest to go through the network of the cooperative.
The gam3a does not employ a government engineer. It operates independently from the government. (ahaly, mish hukuma). Things like lining canals or drilling wells are clear government responsibilities and have nothing to do with the operation of the gam3a. The cooperative works together with other cooperatives in Kharga and Farafra, as these all operate under the same system. There is no cooperation with Abu Minqar, because the gam3a in Abu Minqar is largely dysfunctional.
There is also an agricultural bank in each village within the oasis of Dakhla, which provides fertilizers. It does not provide seeds or pesticides. The bank buys wheat off farmers, but does not buy any other crops.
