Food Security in Egypt: The Socio Economics Implications of Dietary Protein-Energy Interrelationships

摘要

The study investigates the prevalence of malnutrition and the nature food deficiencies in Egypt and makes policy recommendations addressing the situation. The 12,000 households in the Family Budget Survey of 1974/75 were the basis for the analysis. Results indicate that the average caloric intake in Egypt is higher than normal requirements, even among the poor. Large segments of the poorer rural population, however, consume considerably less protein than required. A crash program is proposed to provide nutritional protection for vulnerable groups of the population. For example, food legumes should be increased relative to cereals, and milk, as the cheapest animal-source protein, should be increased for children. Costs of the proposed program were also computed.