Sunday 22 Dec
Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Alaa Farouk, and US Ambassador to Cairo, Hiro Moustafa Garg, met to explore avenues for enhanced cooperation. The meeting was also attended by Engineer Moustafa Al-Sayyad, Deputy Minister of Agriculture, along with ministry officials and representatives from the US Embassy in Cairo.
The Minister emphasized the Egyptian government's strong commitment to advancing the agricultural sector, a priority championed by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. This commitment is evident in the numerous large-scale development projects undertaken by the state, including the Decent Life initiative, desert reclamation efforts, and initiatives to modernize irrigation systems for older lands and optimize water usage. He highlighted the government's focus on implementing the latest modern technologies to enhance land and water productivity, along with initiatives to educate and train smallholder farmers.
The Minister outlined the
ministry's vision for a comprehensive agricultural platform. This platform will
serve as a central hub connecting all stakeholders, identifying and addressing
challenges, and facilitating communication among farmers, producers, and
potential partners. The platform will provide crucial information on products,
specifications, and pricing.
He further noted that the
Agricultural Bank has successfully implemented numerous financing programs for
small-scale farmers across key agricultural sectors, while also expressing the
bank's willingness to collaborate with external funding institutions. Moreover,
it was emphasized that all departments within the ministry are committed to
promptly addressing inquiries from international partners and swiftly resolving
any challenges encountered by producers.
For her part, the US Ambassador
underscored the significance of Egyptian-American relations, highlighting them
as crucial for her country within the region. She praised the impactful
agricultural projects she had witnessed during her visits, including fish farms
and initiatives undertaken by USAID in southern Egypt.
The Ambassador outlined
Washington's future plans for USAID Cairo's agricultural sector support. This
includes supporting the agricultural sector for small farmers, doubling the
productivity of horticultural crops, and adopting good agricultural practices
for wheat production in Egypt.
She emphasized USAID's desire for
collaborative partnerships with the Egyptian Agricultural Bank, the private
sector, and international organizations like the FAO and IFAD.
At the end of the meeting, both parties concurred on the need to streamline trade procedures between the two countries, given their strategic partnership, with the need to continue paying attention to small farmers, as well as increasing cooperation in the fields of training for employment and introducing modern technologies in the agricultural field, and accelerating the study of the idea of a unified agricultural platform for the Egyptian agricultural sector.
