Al-Sisi calls for private sector partnership to boost Egypt's agriculture, livestock

Daily News Egypt

21-05-2025

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi on Wednesday urged stronger collaboration between the government, private sector, and local communities to revitalize the country's agriculture, livestock, and fisheries sectors—key drivers of food security and economic development.
Speaking at the launch of the first phase of the 'New Future of Egypt Industrial City' and the 2025 wheat harvest season in El-Dabaa, northwest Egypt, Al-Sisi emphasized that transforming these sectors cannot be the responsibility of the state alone.
He called for accelerating national agricultural projects, warning that delays lead to lost economic opportunities. 'Bringing 600,000 new feddans into cultivation could generate EGP 30bn annually. Missing a planting season means a full year of lost income,' he said.
Al-Sisi highlighted that the state has already laid essential infrastructure—roads, irrigation systems, and electricity—and invited private investors to join in land development efforts, which are expected to provide direct employment for around 600,000 people.
On livestock, the president proposed replacing low-yield local cattle breeds with more productive alternatives. 'A better breed can yield nearly double the meat using the same amount of feed,' he said, suggesting a national replacement initiative involving 200,000 to 400,000 head of cattle. The state would support the effort, recognizing that most farmers cannot afford the shift on their own.
Turning to fisheries, Al-Sisi criticized the continued use of outdated practices despite Egypt's 14 lakes and extensive coastline. He called for a science-based approach to increase productivity and proposed seasonal fishing bans in lakes such as Nasser, Bardawil, and Manzala to allow fish stocks to recover. Environmental regulations, he stressed, must be enforced to protect aquatic ecosystems.
The president also renewed his call to establish a domestic infant formula production facility, pointing out that Egypt still imports 40 to 45 million cans annually. 'I've raised this issue for four years. We need to stop talking and start building—together with investors and industrialists,' he said.
Al-Sisi underscored the enormous investment required to develop Egypt's agricultural landscape. Preparing one million feddans for farming, he said, would cost between EGP 200bn and EGP 300bn in infrastructure alone.
He cited the 'New Delta' mega-project as a model for integrated agricultural and urban development, expected to accommodate two million families. He also stressed the need for mechanized farming and advanced infrastructure to fully unlock the project's potential.
'We're trying to make the most of every drop of water,' Al-Sisi said, highlighting the role of electricity in expanding agriculture into remote desert areas beyond the national grid. 'This is not a small investment.'
In closing, he called on all Egyptians—citizens, farmers, and investors—to join in the national development effort. 'Good intentions alone won't change our reality. We must work together to build a better future for Egypt.'