Expanding bilateral co-operation and boosting the strategic partnership between Egypt and Uganda across the agriculture, livestock and fisheries sectors were at the core of major discussions held in Cairo on Monday.
Egypt’s Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk held the talks with Uganda’s Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Frank Kajiji Tomoyabazi and Minister of State for Agriculture, Animal Resources and Fisheries Robert Ndugwa Megadi.
Farouk highlighted the longstanding ties between Egypt and Uganda and reaffirmed the political leadership’s commitment to strengthening co-operation with African partners by translating bilateral memoranda of understanding into practical development and investment projects that support food security and sustainable development.
For his part, The Ugandan agriculture minister praised Egypt’s advances in agriculture and its scientific and research capabilities, expressing interest in expanding co-operation and benefiting from Egyptian expertise in aquaculture, livestock breed improvement, veterinary vaccine production and modern irrigation systems.
The two sides reviewed progress on the joint integrated crop and livestock farm in Uganda, established on 500 hectares, describing it as a successful model for transferring Egyptian technology and expertise.
They also agreed to expand the cultivation of maize, soybeans, beans, wheat and sunflowers, while enhancing livestock feeding and fattening systems, agricultural mechanisation, seed production and silage manufacturing.
The ministers also reviewed the veterinary serum and vaccine agreement under which around 10 million doses of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine are supplied annually to Uganda through co-operation between the Veterinary Serum and Vaccine Research Institute and the private sector.
In this respect, they agreed to continue and expand veterinary product supplies to protect livestock in both countries.lBoth sides agreed to encourage private sector partnerships and joint investments in agriculture, livestock production, agricultural processing and modern irrigation infrastructure, while providing the necessary support to Egyptian and Ugandan companies.
Discussions also covered opening the Ugandan market to Egyptian poultry and egg products, supported by Egypt’s internationally recognised avian influenza-free production facilities and advanced veterinary laboratories, as well as cooperation in establishing jointly managed fish farms in Uganda and deploying Egyptian experts to train Ugandan specialists.
The ministers stressed the importance of increasing bilateral trade in agricultural and veterinary products, facilitating market access, expanding exchanges of fruit, citrus, meat, feed and veterinary medicines, and strengthening training and capacity building through the Egyptian International Centre for Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Centre.
