Egypt faces many problems, but one could convincingly
argue that none is greater than the need for economic develop-
ment. As an economy develops, of course, not all people pros-
per. It can take centuries for a strong and viable middle class
to develop. As is true in many developing countries, the divide
between Egypt’s rich and poor is quite evident. Dress, hous-
ing styles, means of transportation, and level of educational
attainment are some of the “obvious” differences between rich
and poor. The differences are particularly noticeable in Upper
Egypt. Here, more than 65 percent of the people live below
the poverty line. Landless farmers, unemployed youth and
women, and predominantly small-scale farmers all contribute
to the region’s dismal economic conditions. Although most
of the people here are traditional farmers, practicing archaic
methods, the land is not well suited to crop production. Addi-
tionally, the scarcity of water resources and very small land
holdings combine to make it extremely difficult for farmers to
eke out enough production to feed their families and make an
adequate income. The situation is much better in Lower Egypt,
where ample water is available to irrigate the fertile soils of the
Nile Delta.