Cairo:Egypt's Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Egyptian Expatriates Badr Abdelatty, along with Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam, witnessed the signing of two significant agreements with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). These agreements aim to benefit Egypt's ministries of irrigation and agriculture.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the agreements focus on supporting sustainable agricultural and rural development. They are designed to enhance the resilience of the agricultural sector and rural communities in addressing water-related and climate challenges.

The first agreement involves concessional development financing of 58.22 million pounds for the Climate-Resilient on-Farm Water Management in the Nile Valley (CROWN) project. This project is part of Egypt's NWFE national platform's food pillar, targeting improved water-use efficiency and climate change adaptation within the agricultural sector. It also focuses on optimizing water resource usage, boosting agricultural productivity, strengthening food security, and enhancing the livelihoods of farmers and rural communities.

The second agreement includes a $470,000 grant from China's Ministry of Finance, provided through the South-South and Triangular Cooperation (SSTC) facility. This grant supports a project aimed at reinforcing Egypt's agricultural resilience and leadership. The initiative will facilitate the transfer and adoption of sustainable agricultural technologies, climate adaptation practices, and digital farming solutions, thereby fostering higher agricultural productivity and sustainable rural development.