Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk has issued a series of immediate directives to all ministry sectors, affiliated authorities and agricultural directorates nationwide to begin implementing the presidential directives announced by President Abdel Fattah El Sisi during the inauguration of the Strategic Command Headquarters on Saturday.
The directives urge preparation of an urgent national programme to reduce the cost of living, regulate supply chains and strengthen food security, in close coordination with the Future of Egypt for Sustainable Development Authority and the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade.
To support the implementation of the presidential directives, the minister instructed the General Authority for Agrarian Reform, the Agricultural Research Centre and agricultural directorates across all governorates to conduct a comprehensive and immediate inventory of all unused lands, buildings and other assets owned by the ministry that are suitable for the establishment of retail outlets and modernised markets.
He also directed the immediate rehabilitation and upgrading of these sites to maximise their contribution to the national food security system in co-operation with the Future of Egypt for Sustainable Development Authority.
Minister Farouk further instructed all production sectors within the ministry to expand their activities and significantly increase production of strategic crops, meat, poultry and dairy products.
The move aims to increase domestic supply and support the state’s efforts to stabilise the prices of essential commodities.
The minister also directed all relevant entities to increase the quantities of food commodities and agricultural and livestock products supplied through both fixed and mobile retail outlets to improve access to affordable food across the country.
In addition, Farouk stressed the importance of ensuring that agricultural and livestock products move directly from farms and production facilities to consumers without intermediaries, in order to enhance market efficiency and help maintain price stability.
He also instructed the agricultural directorates and the Co-operatives Affairs Sector to intensify field inspections and maintain continuous monitoring to ensure the effective implementation of these directives.
