Cairo: Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk has confirmed the intensification of efforts by all entities under the ministry to enhance Egypt's food security, ensuring that the agricultural sector remains resilient amidst challenges and regional events, notably the Iranian-Israeli conflict. Farouk emphasized that despite these events impacting global supply chains and food prices, the Ministry of Agriculture continues to implement comprehensive proactive measures to stabilize the food situation in Egypt.
According to State Information Service Egypt, the Minister highlighted the smooth flow of Egyptian agricultural exports and imports, which have experienced unprecedented growth this year. The ministry's efforts include opening new markets for Egyptian agricultural products through bodies like the Egyptian Plant Quarantine and foreign agricultural relations. This initiative aims to boost national income and provide hard currency for the country.
Farouk noted the Central Administration for Agricultural Quarantine's role in studying and approving new sources for strategic agricultural imports. The aim is to diversify import sources to shield the country from disruptions in specific regions. Additionally, collaboration with relevant ministries is underway to enhance the strategic stock of essential goods, ensuring their continuous availability.
The Minister affirmed the ministry's commitment to supporting Egyptian farmers, whom he described as the backbone of agricultural production. Support includes providing production inputs, improved seeds, and education on modern agricultural practices to increase productivity and optimize land and water resources.
Farouk stated that Egypt, under President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's leadership, is well-equipped to face crises through proactive measures. He credited national agricultural projects launched during El-Sisi's term for increasing arable land and enhancing food security, contributing to a significant leap in the agriculture sector. Efforts are ongoing to enhance resource use efficiency, aiming to increase productivity and reduce waste.
He emphasized that these proactive measures will fortify Egypt's ability to meet its food needs and protect citizens from global market fluctuations, declaring food security a national security issue that will be vigorously pursued.
In a related context, Dr. Mohamed El-Mansi, head of the Central Administration for Agricultural Quarantine, confirmed directives from Minister Farouk and oversight by Dr. Ahmed Azaam, head of the Agricultural Services Sector, to monitor the impact of the Iran-Israel conflict on Egypt's agricultural exports and imports.
El-Mansi reported the continued smooth flow of Egyptian agricultural exports, reaching 5.2 million tons by mid-year. He noted the completion or nearing completion of export seasons for crops such as strawberries, citrus, and potatoes, while others like sweet potatoes and onions continue to show improvement. Upcoming seasons for grapes, mangoes, and pomegranates are expected to see significant growth.
He also mentioned that imports of strategic goods like wheat, yellow corn, and soybeans have continued smoothly, totaling significant volumes since January. The agricultural quarantine is exploring new sources for strategic imports and production inputs, prioritizing countries with potential amidst climate changes, and establishing pest risk management controls to prevent economic impacts.