by Marwa Yahya, Ahmed Afyouny

LUXOR, Egypt, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- In the southern Egyptian village of Al-Baghdadi, Luxor Province, tomatoes are a popular crop among local farmers like Baker Sidqy, thriving in the area's warm temperatures and abundant sunshine.

Tomato prices fluctuate throughout the year. During peak production months, when supply is abundant, prices often drop sharply, resulting in surplus waste. Sidqy said that growing tomatoes is fraught with risks, expressing concern that a significant portion of his harvest may go to waste.

To offset post-harvest losses, Sidqy has turned to the sun-dried tomato export market to boost revenue.

"I learned to dehydrate tomatoes when I realized they were in high demand abroad. Drying tomatoes has given farmers a new lease on life," the 56-year-old man told Xinhua.

Sidqy slices the tomatoes in half and places them on white plastic sheets, where they dry for three days on the roof of his house.

The price of one kilo of fresh tomatoes is 7 Egyptian pounds (14 U.S. cents), while the price of one kilo of dried tomatoes averages 170 pounds. According to Sidqy, it takes 10 kilos of fresh tomatoes to produce 1 kilo of dried tomatoes.

In July of last year, Sidqy exported 250 kilograms of dried tomatoes to Italy, boosting his family's tomato income by 30 percent.

Hany Fatahallah, an agricultural expert at Egypt's National Research Center, said that sun-dried tomato projects in rural areas of southern Egypt -- where many people live below the poverty line -- have attracted large numbers of farmers and housewives. These individuals have gained economic independence by learning to craft homemade sun-dried tomatoes on their rooftops or in their backyards.

In March 2024, villages in western Luxor exported 350 tons of sun-dried tomatoes in 14 containers to countries across Europe, East Asia, as well as the United Arab Emirates, Brazil, and Oman, according to the expert.

According to data from Egypt's Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, the country's exports of dried tomatoes exceed 100 million dollars annually. The data also revealed that one hectare yields 35 tons of dried tomatoes, which are sold for 350,000 Egyptian pounds.

Adilah Mohamed, an unemployed housewife in her 40s, joined a sun-dried tomato project in Al-Hamidat, another village in Luxor, which provided her with both a skill and a stable income. She worked six months a year, earning 12,000 Egyptian pounds.

Her daughter, a university graduate, along with other family members, also work in similar part-time jobs.

"This project employs many people and allows women to challenge poverty," Mohamed said. Enditem

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