Farmers renting state-managed agricultural lands face massive rent hikes of up to 200%, threatening their livelihoods. These increases aim to maximize government revenue but have sparked protests from farmers and support from lawmakers. Tenants are resisting payments and demanding revisions to the decisions.
In recent weeks, farmers across governorates like Beni Suef and Qalyubiya have learned of steep rent increases on lands managed by the Religious Endowments Ministry, up 200 percent, and the Agricultural Land Reform Authority, up 170 percent. For instance, Samir's family in Beni Suef saw their feddan's rent rise from LE15,000 to LE45,000. These lands, managed for decades, include 265,000 feddans under endowments and 800,000 under reform, mostly distributed under Gamal Abdel Nasser's 1950s land reform program.
Hikes began gradually since 2018 with the lifting of traditional rent controls, but the current sharp rises have ignited backlash. General Farmers Union head Abdel Fattah Abdel Aziz said the increases will push smallholders out, as rent accounts for 35-45 percent of their costs. In Qalyubiya, endowments land rent jumped from LE18,000 to LE54,000 per feddan, and reform land from LE10,000 to LE27,000.
In response, many farmers have boycotted payments and launched social media campaigns, backed by MPs like House Agriculture Committee head Hesham al-Hosary. The Senate Agriculture Committee sent a memo to Endowments Minister Osama al-Azhary, and Prime Minister Mostafa Madbuly is expected to discuss the issue with him. The ministry defended the hikes as fair market rates, categorizing lands by size and services, but critics argue they ignore high farming costs and low productivity.
Samir told Mada Masr: 'We inherited this land from our grandfathers. We cannot leave it.' Experts warn this market-driven approach favors large projects over small farmers, endangering food security and traditional farming knowledge.