President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has stressed the importance of strengthening Egypt’s food and water security, improving agricultural productivity and ensuring the sustainable management of national resources, affirming that development initiatives must deliver tangible results for citizens.
The president made these remarks during a session entitled “Food and Water Security: Today’s Challenges and Future Guarantees”, held on the third day of the Egypt Forum 2026.
The session was attended by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, ministers, parliamentarians and agricultural experts.
During the session, President Sisi stated that Egypt’s strategic reserves of essential commodities were sufficient for six months, despite global supply chain disruptions and regional geopolitical challenges.
He emphasised that the planned cash-based subsidy system would be fairer, more transparent and better governed, noting that citizens’ data had been compiled to facilitate its implementation and ensure support reaches eligible beneficiaries.
The session reviewed state efforts since 2014 to expand agricultural land, reclaim new territories, strengthen food subsidies, maintain strategic reserves and increase the number and storage capacity of grain silos.
In such a scope, the president described progress in land reclamation since 2014 as unprecedented, contrasting it with the limited achievements of previous decades.
He affirmed Egypt’s readiness to reclaim ten million feddans, subject to water availability, and stressed the importance of implementing the New Delta project, including its major pumping stations.
He also welcomed private-sector investment in reclaimed land, provided plots were sufficiently large to prevent fragmentation that could undermine agricultural productivity.
He highlighted the Future of Egypt Authority for Sustainable Development’s contribution to these national projects.
Regarding agriculture, President Sisi called for maximising livestock production and replacing traditional breeds with improved varieties, urging governors, officials, local leaders and citizens to support these efforts.
On water management, he stressed the need for state oversight of consumption and well drilling in the Siwa Oasis.
The president highlighted efforts to restore Lake Bardawil, Lake Manzala and Lake Nasser following decades of encroachment, neglect, violations and pollution from sewage and agricultural wastewater.
He explained that institutional shortcomings had necessitated assigning the Future of Egypt Authority responsibility for the lakes, with the aim of restoring their natural condition and fish-producing capacity.
He stressed the importance of these efforts for food security and residents of Port Said, Damietta and Dakahlia.
