The Egyptian Ministry of Environment started meetings on Monday to discuss measures for this year to confront the recurring annual phenomenon of the black cloud resulting from the illegal burning of agricultural waste, especially rice straw, according to MENA.
The meeting, held at the Cairo House in Fostat in Old Cairo, was attended by Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Local Development Mahmoud Shaarawy and Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation El Sayed el Quseir.
Fouad lauded her ministry’s successful plan last year to control air pollution and fight the ugly black smoke phenomenon, thanks to the concerted efforts of all ministries and bodies concerned together with citizens and farmers.
The efforts have reduced the level of air pollution and made it possible to turn this grave challenge to an economic opportunity and transform the agricultural waste into a lucrative and valuable economic commodity, she said.
The Environment Ministry’s plan to control air pollution involves collecting and recycling rice straw in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture, where equipment for chopping, pressing as well as tractors are made available at subsidized prices to be used by farmers and waste recyclers.
This year’s plan also applies the latest technological applications for monitoring fires, early detection and air quality control, she said.
Farmers have become more aware of the economic importance of rice straw and the management of agricultural waste, Fouad added.
The black cloud occurs annually starting from September and until November; the time when farmers harvest the crop and get rid of the leftovers by burning.
The black clouds are also caused by natural factors, including thermal reflection, as well as human factors such as emissions from vehicles and factories.
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