Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi has said that Egypt is in race against time in order to increase its cultivated land by 3.5 million feddans through reclamation projects in the New Delta, Toshka, and Central Sinai. This is almost equal to one third of the existing agricultural land nationwide, and it is an enormous project that requires time, effort, and “considerable” cost.
President Sisi made these remarks on Wednesday at the inauguration of the Nitrogen Fertiliser Complex, in Ain Sokhna town of Suez governorate in northeastern Egypt.
The president added, “We are talking about an enormous project that requires large investments, and abundant amounts of water and fertilisers.”
It took the state three years to implement Nitrogen Fertiliser Complex as it has first to provide the required source of energy for manufacturing, namely natural gas.”
“Industrial development is a small headline but its realisation takes time and money,” Sisi stated.
Sisi reiterated that the amount of water used to irrigate the mega project of 3.5 million feddans is huge, noting that it comes from the Red Sea, filtered agricultural drainage, and underground water.
He stressed that it was necessary first to provide adequate natural gas for the manufacturing of nitrogen fertilisers. “How could I implement these projects if I don’t have electricity and gas?” Sisi wondered. He said that such a complex costs around $800 million, in addition to the facility’s prices,” the president explained.
Agricultural land is now available for all aspiring farmers and investors, Sisi said, noting that the land is equipped with modern irrigation systems and is supplied with water.
Sisi praised uniquely engineered water pumping stations that supply elevated lands that have been reclaimed for agriculture.
In an address to farmers, President Sisi affirmed that the fertile lands that people in the countryside own are too precious to be encroached upon. He asked them to preserve the lands because they will soon be even more valuable.
President Sisi asked universities and schools to organise field trips to mega projects such as these so students realise the achievements and get inspired.
“We cannot allow anyone to manipulate our young people and tell them no development is happening. Our young should see for themselves,” Sisi stated.
President Sisi urged the media to shed light on the new development projects, in particular agricultural ones in the New Delta, Sinai and Toshka.
The president noted that Egypt has not had such a programme to add 3.5 million feddans to its cultivated areas over the past thirty of forty years.
Meanwhile, the president referred to the water treatment plants set up to provide water for the New Delta, and Central Sinai, making utmost benefit from the agricultural wastewater gathered in the two lakes of Manzallah and Temsah. The two plants of Bahr el-Baqr and Mahsama were established to provide 6.5 million square metres of water that will be transferred to the Sinai Peninsula through siphones under the Suez Canal, the president said.
In addition, up to 30 water-lifting stations have been set up to serve the New Delta Project, 15 in the north, and 15 in the south, each to lift 7.5 million square metres daily, the president said. The cost of electricity plants to offer power for operating water-lifting stations hit LE150 billion.
The president stressed the prime role of the media to shed light on the great efforts to bridge the food gap, and face the increase in population, which hit 20 to 25 million over the past ten years. He also stressed the need to lower the import bill, through increasing production.
Nitrogen Fertiliser Complex in Ain Sokhna is due to provide fertilisers for the 3.5 million feddans by middle, or the end of next year.
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