Consolidating food security and advancing sustainable agricultural development remain at the forefront of the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation’s priorities, said Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Alaa Farouk.
During a seminar organised by the Egyptian-Canadian Business Council and the Egyptian Business Council for International Co-operation, the minister noted that such priorities are part of a comprehensive strategy to enhance productivity, support farmers, and ensure efficient resource utilisation amid global challenges. Ministry officials, members of Parliament, and public figures were present at the seminar.
The minister outlineda strategy based on horizontal and vertical expansion, improved crop varieties, and the development of livestock, poultry and fisheries, alongside digital transformation and enhanced agricultural extension services.
He emphasised that the policy aims to achieve sustainable development, adapt to climate change, improve resource efficiency, raise rural living standards, and enhance food security.
He highlighted key achievements, including cultivated areas exceeding 10 million feddans and a total cropped area of 17.5 million feddans, in addition to the reclamation of 3.5 million feddans in the New Delta, Toshka and Sinai.
Irrigation systems have been modernised on 477,000 feddans and improved on 250,000 feddans. The Ministry has also developed and registered 17 high-yield crop varieties in 2025, with 14 additional varieties currently under registration.
The minister confirmed progress in fertiliser governance through a fully electronic system to be implemented nationwide by April 2026, alongside the expansion of the “Farmer’s Card”, which has registered 4.3 million holders covering 8.4 million feddans.
He noted that the Ministry aims to reach 10 million head of high-productivity livestock by 2029 to meet 70 per cent of red meat needs, while achieving 98 per cent self-sufficiency in poultry and full self-sufficiency in table eggs.
He added that wheat productivity has reached 18–20 ardebs per feddan, supported by research and modern agricultural practices, with cultivated areas exceeding 3.7 million feddans. Contract farming has expanded to 700,000 acres in cooperation with 42 companies, ensuring stable returns for farmers.
The minister also highlighted strict pesticide control measures, noting that 16,608 shops were inspected in 2025, resulting in 390 violations, while 2,769 shops were inspected during the first quarter of this year, resulting in 69 violations.
He affirmed that Egypt, despite its population of 108 million and hosting 9 million guests, has achieved self-sufficiency in several key commodities, while targeting increased self-sufficiency rates of 50 per cent in wheat, 55 per cent in maize, and 60 per cent in meat.
For his part, the Chairman of the Egyptian-Canadian Business Council, noted that the agricultural sector contributes around 15 per cent to GDP and employs a quarter of the workforce, with exports reaching 9.5 million tonnes last year, stressing that food security remains a matter of national sovereignty.
