Agriculture in Libya
Although
History of agricultural development
Historically, Libyan agriculture has had an inverse relationship to growth in the oil industry. In 1958, agriculture supplied over 26% of
Libyan Soils
Soils
characteristics in Libya are affected to the great extent by nature and conditions in which these soils were formed. Generally, aridity is the main characterizes of such soils. Most of these soils are undeveloped or partially developed.
[2] [1] According to the United States soil classification, Aridisols and Entisols are the major soil orders in the country. Salt affected soils are spread in the coastal area as Salic Haplocambids, Typic Aquisalids, Typic Haplosalids, Typic Haplocalcids, Lithic Haplocalcids, and Typical Torriorthents.[5] [1] [2]
Agriculture since 1962
Since 1962 agriculture has received more attention. The government bag began providing inducements for absentee landlords to encourage productive
In 1984, Libya imported over 2 million
Production
Libya produced in 2018:
- 348 thousand tons of potato;
- 236 thousand tons of watermelon;
- 215 thousand tons of tomato;
- 188 thousand tons of olive;
- 183 thousand tons of onion;
- 176 thousand tons of date;
- 138 thousand tons of wheat;
- 93 thousand tons of barley;
- 72 thousand tons of vegetable;
- 60 thousand tons of plum;
- 53 thousand tons of orange;
In addition to smaller productions of other agricultural products.[7]
Land use and irrigation
The total area of Libya is estimated at 1,760,000 km2.
Studies from the 1970s indicated that at any given time, about one-third of total arable land remained fallow and up to 45% of farms were under 10 ha.[1] Most farms in the Jifara Plain were irrigated by individual wells and electric pumps, although in 1985 only about 1% of arable land was irrigated.[1]
Since 1969, the
Falling water tables caused by over irrigation posed a long-term
Libyan Soils
Soils and their characteristics in Libya are affected to the great extent by nature and conditions in which these soils were formed. Generally, aridity is the main characterizes of such soils. Most of these soils are undeveloped or partially developed. [2] [1] According to the United States soil classification, Aridisols and Entisols are the major soil orders in the country. Salt affected soils are spread in the coastal area as Salic Haplocambids, Typic Aquisalids, Typic Haplosalids, Typic Haplocalcids, Lithic Haplocalcids, and Typical Torriorthents.[5] [1] [2]
Fishing
Although Libya has nearly 1,800 km of
Sponge fishing was monopolized by Greek fishers.[9] A tiny percentage of the harvest was obtained by Libyans using small boats and skin-diving equipment from shallow waters inshore. In 1977, the government established freshwater fish farms in several inshore locations. In 1997, the low annual catch of 34,500 mt demonstrates Libya’s still underdeveloped fisheries. Low investments in fishing boats, ports, and processing facilities are major obstacles to growth. The country has one major fishing port (Zliten), one tuna plant and two sardine factories with small processing capacities (1,000 metric tons per year each). Libya is planning to build 24 fishing ports in addition to one under construction at Marsa Zuaga.[6] With a primary and secondary productive employment base of around 12,000 persons by 2006, the national fisheries sector provides a small fraction - around 1% - of the total labor force. Its estimated contribution to Agricultural GDP is negligible, standing at around 10%.[10]
Forestry
Libya lacks forests for commercial purposes. Although the government designated over 624 km2 as
Statistics
- Area:
- Coastline: 1,770 km.[1]
- Maritime claims:
- territorial sea: 12 nm
- note: Gulf of Sidra closing line - 32 degrees, 30 minutes north
- exclusive fishing zone: 62 nautical miles (115 km)
- Climate: Mediterranean along coast; dry, extreme desert interior.[1]
- Elevation extremes:
- lowest point: Sabkhat Ghuzayyil -47 m
- highest point: Bikku Bitti 2,266 m
- Land use:
- Irrigated land: 4,700 km² (2003).[1]
- Geography: more than 90% of the country is desert or semidesert.[1]
- Agriculture - products: wheat, barley, olives, dates, citrus, vegetables, peanuts, soybeans; cattle.[1]
See also
References
References
- ^ .
- ^ ISBN 978-3030663674.
- ^ Doing Business In LIBYA: A Country Commercial Guide for U.S. Companies, March, 2006
- ^ a b "Libya AGRICULTURE".
- ^ .
- ^ a b National Economies Encyclopedia: Libya Agriculture
- ^ Libya production in 2018, by FAO
- ^ Food Self-Sufficiency and Agricultural Research in Libya. Taher Azzabi, Agricultural Research Center, Tripoli (Libya)
- ^ For background on the Libyan fisheries sector covering pre-WWII until the late 1980s, refer to: Serbetis (1952): Asciak (1964); Laskaridis (1969); McKellar (1981); Arrundale and Curr (1989).
- ^ The marine wealth sector of Libya: a development planning overview. Fisheries and Aquaculture Department
- ^ The Library of Congress Country Studies; CIA World Factbook
- GSPLA. 1989. Agriculture achievements in 20 years. Secretariat of Agriculture Land Reclamation and Animal Wealth .
- GSPLA. 1970. Agriculture in Libya. Facts and Figure.
- Mohamed Al Genedal. 1978. Agriculture in Libya. Arab Book Publishers.
- Ali Rahuma. 1993. Cost of barley and wheat production in some state managed agricultural projects. J. Agric. Res. (In press).
- Future of food economics in the Arab State. Vol. 4. Statistics. 1979.
- Statistical index 1970. Ministry of Economic and Planning.
- Sassi Haraga et al. 1993. Wheat and barley: Facts and Figures, 1968-1991. Agric. Res. Centre.