Egyptian rice farmers hit hard by climate change - in pictures

As nation prepares to host Cop27, there are major concerns about conditions in the Delta, known for millennia for its fertile soil

Farmer Ezzat Mostafa, 62, winnows rice in a field in Qaha, north of Cairo, Egypt. All photos: Reuters

Mr Mostafa says this season has been difficult because of water shortages and severe heat.

Qaha is located in the rich farmland of the southern part of the Nile Delta.

As Egypt hosts the UN's Cop27 climate talks, the country’s leaders have said the changing conditions the Delta, known for millennia for its fertile soil, are a major concern.

Saltwater intrusion, caused by rising seas, is the most challenging threat to the Delta, experts say.

The Nile Delta is home to about 40 per cent of Egypt’s 104 million people and accounts for half of the country’s economy, according to the UN food agency.

The government is introducing measures, including barriers and run-off systems, to protect the Delta's people from the effects of climate change.

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