Ain Shams University, Faculty of Agriculture
P.O. Box 68 Hada'ik Shobra
Cairo 11241
Tel. (0020-2) 220 1176
Fax: (0020-2) 221 4461
Contact: Dr Mohamed Kamel Rihan

EDSC was established in 1991 and belongs to the Center for Agricultural Studies and Consultation (CASC) at the Ain Shams University. It is, however, a completely independent unit from the university. In terms of its structure, technical, management and financial aspect, it is a semi-government organization but operates as a private economic unit offering its products and services in the form of consultancies. EDSC has extensive linkages with government and other organisations.

ARnet

Among its objectives are:

• to carry out research studies in different agricultural and development fields;
• to conduct economic feasibility studies for private, public, and co-operative enterprises;
• to design, prepare, and implement training programmes at different levels, especially for employees working in the different agricultural economic activities;
• to organize seminars, workshops and conferences to discuss problems related to the Egyptian and Arab economies and its links with the national economy
• to provide consultations on the fields of economic, social, and rural development;
• to publish and exchange data and information concerning its different activities with similar centers, both national and international;
• to strengthen professional relationships between EDSC and Arab and international organizations working on the fields of agricultural rural development.

EDSC has undertaken numerous studies and organized seminars on various themes on agriculture and rural development. From 1991-96, it carried out more than 30 training programmes in different management subjects, agricultural economics and women in development.

Facilitating information exchange and local and national networking on agrarian issues. From the work started in the first phase of ARNET which involved collection, analysis and presentation of field data from the three countries belonging to the regional network (Yemen, Egypt and Morocco), EDSC has been stimulating information exchange among the national nodes. It has been providing analytical accounts of successful and less successful experiences from the field, and providing new research and empirical material in the form of documents and data for use by other members of the network.

Research studies. EDSC has prepared a study for the World Food Programme (WFP) in 1999 "Settlement on Newly developed Land" which looks at the socio-economic conditions of small holders and landless who obtain access to new land.

Other studies that it has undertaken are: An Integrated System Combining Conventional and Protected Crop Production in the Newly reclaimed Areas in Egypt" and "The Technical, Social and Economic Aspects of Water Harvesting of Rainfed Desert Farming Systems".