President Abdel Fattah El Sisi appraised Saturday progress on a number of national agricultural projects during a meeting with Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouli and Minister of Agriculture el-Sayyed el-Quseir.
The president listened to an explanation from the minister of agriculture about the steps taken so far in the overhaul of the el-Zahraa Stud Farm in southern Cairo where some of the nation’s most original horses are bred.
The farm contains some of the purest Arabian horse breeds in the world, Presidency Spokesman, Ambassador Bassam Radi, said.
He added that the farm would be the nucleus of Marabit equestrian and breeding city in the New Administrative Capital.
The city will be an integrated venue for horse breeding and equestrian activities, the presidency spokesman said.
The president gave instructions for speeding up the upgrade of the el-Zahraa Stud Farm with the aim of reviving Egyptian Arabian horse breeding traditions.
He asked the government to enlist the best international expertise in this regard.
Minister el-Quseir revealed during the meeting that the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) had accredited a number of animal health laboratories of his ministry.
This, he said, reflects Egypt’s possession of laboratories that operate as per the highest international standards.
This applies to ones dealing with animal or plant health, the minister said during the meeting.
Discussions between the president and the government officials also focused on the latest developments in national meat production and industries, including a national project for preventing the slaughter of calves, widely known as the Veal Project.
The discussions also dwelt on a project for the improvement of animal breeds.
President Sisi ordered the government to offer more support to these projects, citing their economic and social returns for Egyptian citizens.
He ordered the government to provide LE10 billion (roughly $645 million) in additional funding for all animal wealth projects and meat industries, Ambassador Radi said.
He added that the president also listened to an explanation from the minister of agriculture about his ministry’s plan for improving the poultry industry across the nation.
He said Egypt enjoys self-sufficiency in poultry production, noting that around 3 million people work in this industry nationwide.
President Sisi directed the government to form a higher committee to be responsible for regulating and improving the poultry industry.
The committee will also be in charge of offering the necessary support to the industry and coordinating policies related to it in co-operation with the Federation of Poultry Producers and the private sector, Ambassador Radi said.
