Latest news with #AgricultureandLandReclamation
Middle East
4 days ago
- Business
- Middle East
OPEN// President urges genetic improvement of local livestock
CAIRO, July 15 (MENA) – President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Tuesday stressed the importance of improving local livestock breeds to increase their productivity in meat and dairy. The comments came during a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Sherif Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk, and Baha El-Ghannam, Executive Director of the Future of Egypt for Sustainable Development initiative. Presidential spokesman Mohamed El-Shennawy said the meeting reviewed the country's strategic reserves of key commodities, including wheat, sugar, oil, meat, and poultry, noting that Egypt's food security remains stable and reassuring. The discussion covered details of procurement contracts, including 3.4 million tons of wheat, 192,000 tons of crude vegetable oil, 4,000 tons of frozen poultry, and 6,000 tons of frozen meat, the spokesman further said. The meeting highlighted that the government is working to diversify wheat import sources to ensure supply continuity and avoid disruptions, he added. Sisi emphasized the need for full coordination between all relevant state institutions working on food security, ensuring their efforts are aligned with national policies. In this context, cooperation with the Future of Egypt initiative was highlighted to identify land areas in the New Delta suitable for strategic crop cultivation, with the goal of maximizing cultivated acreage and increasing self-sufficiency. The meeting addressed ongoing efforts to regulate bakeries, mills, and local markets, and discussed progress in the 'one-day market' initiative, which launched in November 2024 with 200 markets and expanded in May 2025 with more than 200 additional markets. Also, it reviewed plans to expand partnerships with the private sector and attract foreign investment in retail. Updates were presented on new commercial chain projects in Obour, Nasr City, and Qalyub, Shennawy said. Preparations are underway to launch a government-backed retail chain named Carry On, the first unified brand in partnership with the private sector, according to him. Efforts to improve domestic trade and digitize subsidy beneficiary databases were also brought up, aiming to ensure that subsidies reach those who meet eligibility criteria. Food security issues were discussed in detail, including the development of the commodity exchange as a mechanism to stabilize markets and prices, the spokesman said. The exchange is expected to support both producers and consumers, while enhancing the availability of key goods at reasonable prices, he further said. Exporters and importers have begun registering with the exchange, and draft legislation is being prepared to govern its operations, drawing on international models, he added. The meeting also covered policies on strategic crop cultivation and procurement, agricultural digitization, cost-efficiency measures, and fertilizer supply, particularly nitrates and urea. Gradual and balanced reforms were recommended to protect farmers and ensure food security. The president reiterated the need to boost red meat and dairy output by improving local breeds, alongside efforts to enhance agricultural productivity and mechanization. (MENA) R E E/
Daily News Egypt
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt, EU, and Italy launch €24m integrated rural development project
Egypt's Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Alaa Farouk, inaugurated the first technical committee meeting of the Integrated Rural Development Project, joined by European Union Ambassador to Cairo Angelina Eichhorst, Italian Ambassador Michele Quaroni, and Head of Italian Development Cooperation Tibario Chiari. Funded through a €24m grant from the European Union, the project is implemented by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and focuses on improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in the governorates of Sohag, Assiut, and Beni Suef. Its scope includes strengthening agricultural extension services, livestock production, plant health, and field irrigation systems. Minister Farouk highlighted the project as a significant step towards sustainable development in Upper Egypt, reflecting the government's commitment to social justice and better living standards in rural areas. He noted that by widening access to economic opportunities and essential services, the project aims to empower local communities and enhance resilience. Farouk described the initiative as a comprehensive development model that combines targeted interventions to bolster agricultural cooperatives and improve the efficiency of agricultural value chains. These measures, he explained, will help increase productivity and incomes, reduce losses, and raise the competitiveness of Egyptian agricultural products both locally and internationally. The minister also emphasised the project's role in creating new opportunities for rural women and youth through dedicated programmes that provide training, technical support, and access to finance—enabling them to become active contributors to economic and social development within their communities. Farouk further praised the initiative as an example of strategic partnership between Egypt and the European Union, aligning with Egypt's Vision 2030, which calls for integrated rural development balancing economic, social, and environmental priorities. He affirmed Egypt's openness to expanding cooperation with the EU in areas such as plant and livestock production, export market access, and attracting European investment to the agricultural sector. EU Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst welcomed the collaboration, describing Egypt as a 'key strategic partner for the EU.' She affirmed the EU's readiness to work with Egypt in rural development, agriculture, and technology transfer, while stressing the importance of maximising the impact of the grant through effective implementation. Italian Ambassador Michele Quaroni commended the partnership and the joint efforts to support agricultural development in the project's target governorates. He also invited Minister Farouk and a technical delegation from the Ministry of Agriculture to visit Italy to explore cooperative models as part of Egypt's broader strategy to modernise its agricultural cooperative system.
Daily News Egypt
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily News Egypt
Agriculture Minister discusses boosting agricultural cooperation with Romania, Moldova
Alaa Farouk, Egypt's Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, met with Mohamed Mostafa Orfi, Egypt's newly appointed ambassador to Romania and Moldova, to explore opportunities for strengthening agricultural cooperation with both countries. The discussion focused on advancing bilateral agricultural relations, including exchanging expertise and modern agricultural technologies. The meeting also addressed mechanisms to increase the volume of agricultural trade and explored collaboration in key areas such as food security and joint agricultural investment—sectors that hold growing global significance. Minister Farouk reaffirmed Egypt's commitment to expanding cooperation with Romania and Moldova, highlighting Egypt's significant capabilities in agriculture that could serve shared interests. He also pointed to potential joint initiatives, such as co-producing and manufacturing agricultural machinery and equipment. Farouk noted that Egypt could act as a regional hub for distributing Romanian agricultural equipment to African markets, alongside efforts to open new markets for Egyptian agricultural exports. For his part, Ambassador Mohamed Mostafa Orfi expressed his eagerness to enhance economic and agricultural ties between Egypt, Romania, and Moldova during his tenure. He stressed the agricultural sector's vital role as a cornerstone for deepening relations among nations.
Egypt Independent
12-07-2025
- Business
- Egypt Independent
Egypt's agricultural exports hit 5.8 million tons to date
Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouq affirmed that the recent growth in Egypt's agricultural exports constitutes clear evidence of the sector's resilience, strength, and increasing competitiveness on the global stage. Farouq added that these results reflect the concerted efforts undertaken at all levels to ensure that Egyptian agricultural products reach international markets at the highest standards of quality, thereby further solidifying Egypt's position as a regional and global agricultural hub. He reiterated the Ministry of Agriculture's commitment to sustaining efforts aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity, improving crop quality, and broadening the range of export markets, initiatives designed to support both the national economy and the livelihoods of Egyptian farmers. The minister also announced a notable increase in Egypt's agricultural exports, which have surpassed 5.8 million tons to date, with citrus fruits and potatoes maintaining their positions at the top of the country's export list. This information was detailed in a report submitted on Friday 11/7/2025 to the minister by Ahmed Ozzam, Head of the Agricultural Services and Monitoring Sector. The report, based on statistics from the Central Administration of Plant Quarantine (CAPQ), outlined the continued progress of Egyptian agricultural exports in international markets. According to the report, citrus exports have surpassed 1.9 million tons, maintaining their position as Egypt's leading agricultural export. Potatoes ranked second, with approximately 1.3 million tons exported, reflecting sustained international demand for both crops, attributed to their consistently high quality. According to the same statistics, exports of fresh onions reached approximately 209,000 tons, while fresh and dry beans accounted for around 160,000 tons. Grape exports totaled approximately 120,000 tons, securing the fifth position among Egyptian agricultural exports, followed by sweet potatoes in sixth place with about 115,000 tons exported. The list of top Egyptian agricultural exports also includes, in descending order: fresh garlic, fresh strawberries, fresh tomatoes, guava, mangoes, and pomegranates. Farouq underlined that his ministry is continuously working to support exporters by removing obstacles and enhancing the global competitiveness of Egyptian products. He highlighted the pivotal role of the agricultural sector in Egypt's economy and its significant contribution to the country's comprehensive development plans. Minister Farouq further explained that the exceptional performance of the agro export system stems from collaboration among farmers, producers, and exporters, all dedicated to cultivating high-quality crops in accordance with best agricultural practices. He noted that this collaborative effort is supported by ongoing oversight from agricultural engineers and researchers, the Central Administration of Plant Quarantine (CAPQ), central reference laboratories within the ministry, and the Department of Foreign Agricultural Relations. 'Together, these entities work to open new markets for Egyptian produce and to ensure thorough monitoring of the entire supply chain, from the farm to international markets,' he added.
Daily News Egypt
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily News Egypt
Egypt's agriculture minister meets Namibian delegation to talk farm ties
Egypt's Agriculture Minister and a Namibian parliamentary delegation have discussed strengthening agricultural cooperation, with both sides agreeing to form technical committees to draft a memorandum of understanding, the ministry said in a statement. The meeting between Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Alaa Farouk, and the Namibian delegation, led by Paulus Mbangu, Chairperson of the agriculture and irrigation committee in Namibia's National Council, aimed to enhance bilateral ties and exchange expertise. The head of the Egyptian Senate's agriculture committee, Abdelsalam al-Gebaly, and the deputy agriculture minister, Mostafa al-Sayyad, also attended the meeting. According to the ministry's statement, the two sides discussed cooperation in exchanging expertise, producing crop seeds, mitigating the effects of climate change, improving livestock breeds, and agro-processing. Minister Farouk stressed the Egyptian political leadership's interest in expanding cooperation with African nations, including Namibia, particularly in food security and sustainable agricultural development. He highlighted recent developments in Egypt's agricultural sector, including projects in land expansion, modern irrigation, and livestock production. Farouk added that the ministry, through its research centres, was keen to provide all forms of support and offered to train Namibian specialists at the Egyptian International Centre for Agriculture. He also pointed to Egypt's investment opportunities in the agricultural sector. The Namibian delegation expressed interest in gaining Egyptian expertise in land reclamation, producing high-quality and climate-resistant seeds, fertilizer manufacturing, and various agricultural treatments to improve soil efficiency. Mbangu, the head of the Namibian delegation, praised Egypt's progress in agriculture and said Namibia was keen to benefit from its experience. He noted that Namibia has large areas of arable land, natural resources such as river and rainwater, and a large livestock population, which could have a positive impact on cooperation in breed improvement and the export of meat products to Egypt. The head of the Egyptian Senate's agriculture committee, Abdelsalam al-Gebaly, pointed to the cooperation between the Egyptian parliament and the government in supporting farmers and achieving food security. At the end of the meeting, the two sides agreed to form technical committees to formulate joint cooperation proposals and prepare a memorandum of understanding with specific timetables and clear programs. The ministry's foreign agricultural relations department will serve as the point of contact for this cooperation, the statement said.
