
Agriculture Minister: Farm coding reforms spur record Egypt Agri-export growth
These reforms aimed at ensuring enhanced traceability, regulatory compliance, and quality assurance, the minister said during a meeting with Rabih Karaky, Practice Manager for Agriculture and Food for Middle East and North Africa Region at the World Bank.
During the meeting, Farouq said that his ministry focuses on enhancing the added value of agricultural products and expanding agro-industrial activities to bolster the sector's contribution to the national economy.
He underscored the implementation of a series of strategic national programs and initiatives designed to achieve vertical expansion by enhancing the productivity of land and water resources, alongside horizontal expansion to increase the total cultivated area and elevate agricultural output.
He also highlighted initiatives focused on livestock development, including breed improvement programs and the 'Betalo' initiative, which aims to enhance national self-sufficiency in red meat production.
Farouq added that the ministry is also implementing initiatives to modernize milk collection centers and advance the poultry and aquaculture sectors, as part of its strategy to reinforce Egypt's national food security framework.
He also underlined the ministry's sustained commitment to empowering smallholder farmers by improving their access to financial resources and modern agricultural mechanization.
The minister added that these efforts are undertaken alongside rural development initiatives under the presidential 'Decent Life' program, which aims to empower rural communities and foster the growth of micro- and small-scale enterprises.
The minister further underlined the pivotal role of agricultural research institutions in driving innovation, particularly through the development of high-yielding, climate-resilient, and water-efficient crop varieties.
For his part, Karaky commended Egypt's progress in the agricultural sector, reaffirming the World Bank's commitment to supporting sustainable agricultural development and investment within the country.
He further noted that a comprehensive study is underway to assess the sector's future needs and identify opportunities for enhanced strategic cooperation.
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