Cairo: Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouq stated that Egypt's agricultural exports have witnessed substantial growth in recent months, largely attributed to the ongoing implementation of farm coding reforms.

According to State Information Service Egypt, these reforms are aimed at ensuring enhanced traceability, regulatory compliance, and quality assurance. The minister discussed this during a meeting with Rabih Karaky, Practice Manager for Agriculture and Food for the Middle East and North Africa Region at the World Bank.

During the meeting, Farouq mentioned that his ministry is focused on enhancing the added value of agricultural products and expanding agro-industrial activities to bolster the sector's contribution to the national economy. He emphasized the execution of strategic national programs and initiatives 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.

The minister 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 implementing initiatives to modernize milk collection centers and advance the poultry and aquaculture sectors, as part of its strategy to strengthen Egypt's national food security framework.

He further underlined the ministry's commitment to empowering smallholder farmers by improving their access to financial resources and modern agricultural mechanization. These efforts are part of 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.

Farouq highlighted 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.

Karaky also noted that a comprehensive study is underway to assess the sector's future needs and identify opportunities for enhanced strategic cooperation.