Egypt: As tourists disappear, Bedouins revive ancient farming roots
In the highlands around the town, Bedouin tribes have a long history of small-scale farming and goat herding before a boom in package tourism
By Menna Farouk
Thomson Reuters Foundation
Nov 9, 2020
Saint Catherine, Egypt
Excerpt:
“The capacity to live from the land is something that sets the Bedouin apart and its economic advantages – and the extra safety it gives – is more clear than ever in a pandemic,” he added.
South Sinai’s governorate launched a series of agricultural projects in August in Saint Catherine to support Bedouin communities, including plans to build greenhouses, training programs, and the distribution of olive seedlings.
In Cairo, the national government has earmarked billions of dollars for developmental projects in the Sinai to expand agricultural lands and make better use of water.
But Sheikh Saad, who has come back to his orchard after working for 30 years as a tour guide in Mount Sinai, said many Bedouins would not need much persuasion to continue looking after their fruit trees and vegetable gardens.
