Egypt
Egypt
The Arab Republic of Egypt is a country that lies in the north-eastern corner of the African continent and on part of the Sinai Peninsula. It has a total area of 386,660 square miles (about three times the size of New Mexico) and a total population of close to 63 million people with an annual growth rate of approximately 2.3%. Ninety-nine percent of Egypt's population live on approximately 3.5 percent of the land, most of which is located in the Nile River valley and delta region. About 49% of the population live in cities with the remaining 51% living predominately in rural agricultural villages. Egypt's largest city, and its capital, is Cairo (pop. 11,000,000) which is located in the northern part of the country on the Nile River. The second largest city and Egypt's chief seaport is Alexandria (pop. 3,000,000) which is located on the Mediterranean Sea. Together these two cites contain about two thirds of Egypt's total population.
Whereas only 2.3% of the total area of Egypt is cultivated, agriculture still accounts for 17% of Egypt's GDP and provides employment for 38% of the labor force, the majority of which are small scale farmers. The water buffalo is a very important resource for these small scale, low income, farmers due to their milk and meat production. For many Egyptian small scale farmers, the water buffalo represent their primary investment.
In 1996, Purdue University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt. This MOU enhances international and educational cooperation by fostering faculty and student exchanges and collaborative research. Some of the activities between the two universities are funded and facilitated by the United Natious Scientific, Cultural, and Educational Organization (UNESCO)