Returns to agricultural mechanization in Egypt: Lessons learned from innovation driven research

In light of both historical and contemporary (political) sensitivity on civil society movements, we chalk out a normative role for the Egyptian private sector, within contemporary systems of agricultural innovation, and tied to a desire for promoting human and environmental well- being within rural communities. Utilizing the case of research driven mechanization in the production of wheat, we argue for a paradigm shift in the modalities for how public subsidies and knowledge delivery have traditionally been disseminated in Egypt. Our exposition contributes to a growing research interest on the nature of the continuum between agricultural research and area development.