Egypt’s Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Alaa Farouk, has discussed expanding cooperation with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to support the government’s “Reviving the Productive Village” initiative, which aims to drive sustainable rural development.
During a meeting with FAO Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa Abdelhakim Elwaer on Tuesday, the two sides explored ways to draw on the FAO’s technical expertise to help transform Egyptian villages from consumption-based communities into productive economic hubs.
Farouk said the initiative seeks to create a unified brand for products made in Egyptian villages while establishing small-scale economic enterprises to diversify rural incomes.
The minister added that the programme also focuses on increasing agricultural productivity through small-scale projects based on contract farming and mechanization. This is in addition to supporting livestock development by assisting small breeders with high-yield breeds, promoting silk and beekeeping industries, and strengthening the role of agricultural cooperatives.
The initiative places particular emphasis on creating employment opportunities for women, especially female heads of households.
Elwaer praised Egypt’s vision for rural development and reaffirmed the FAO’s readiness to provide technical support and expertise to help ensure the initiative’s long-term economic and environmental sustainability.
