WFP commends Egypt’s efforts to boost food security

Agrawal said countries work hard to achieve food security for their peoples.

The Decent Life initiative, which was launched by Egyptian President, Abdel Fattah El Sisi, a few months ago with a view to improving the living conditions of almost half of Egypt’s population, he said, is a living proof of that.

Egypt adopts, he added, an integrated approach in achieving sustainable development.

“This development starts from the basis, namely by investing in human development,” he told in an interview.

“Definitely, ensuring food security is part and parcel of the national strategy,” he added.

The international community marked the World Food Day on October 16. The celebration came this year amid numerous challenges to food security. These challenges compound water scarcity and the severe impacts of climate change.

These challenges were met with concerted action by Egypt in co-operation with international partners to achieve food security.

Agrawal praised this action. He described investments in smart agriculture and smart irrigation as ‘essential’ for the achievement of sustainable development.

The Near East and North Africa, he said, suffer from water scarcity.

He added that 45% of farmland in these two areas would be exposed to salinity.

Agrawal noted that agriculture uses 85% of available water resources in these two regions.

“Climate change will further exacerbate the impact of Covid-19,” Agrawal said. “It will also worsen water scarcity and population increase.”

He said these challenges are not difficult to deal with. However, he added, they require coordination between the agencies and institutions concerned.

“There is an urgent need for supporting small breeders and investing in natural resources,” he said.

All these elements, he added, would help increase productivity, and reduce crop loss and costs.

The WFP official noted that food security and water security have always been connected with each other.

Each of them, he said, depends on the other.

He commended the efforts Egypt makes to better manage its water resources and boost its water security.

Agrawal especially referred to ongoing programmes for converting surface irrigation in Egypt into more water-saving irrigation, including smart one.

“Egypt has been investing heavily since 2019 in lining irrigation canals and instituting smart irrigation,” Agrawal said.

“Better irrigation helps countries diversify crops and consequently have better dietary and food consumption, which translates into food security at the end of the day.” Egypt’s population, he said, is expected to increase to 150 million by 2030.

Most of these people, he added, would live in urban areas.

“This means that the demand for farmland will decrease,” Agrawal said.

The food industry, he added, has to adapt to this scarcity to provide food without destroying the environment, while supporting small farmers to maintain resilience and provide food security in the region.

Agrawal said the WFP works in Egypt hand in hand with the government to provide food for everybody, use people-focused technologies that support sustainability, use cash transfers to bridge the gap and provide incentives to the community.

The WFP implements a major programme with the government until 2023, with total funds of $528 million.

It is implemented in co-operation with an array of ministries, including agriculture, supply and trade, education, and international co-operation.

“The programme covers social protection, women empowerment and nutrition,” Agrawal said.

“Such multilateral co-operation makes the programme sustainable and attainable,” he added.

He said the WFP provides school meals for primary and preparatory schoolchildren.

Over 500,000 schoolchildren, he said, have benefited from this so far.

Agrawal said the WFP looks to initiate discussions with the government on future co-operation.

“We are keen to align our work with national development needs,” the WFP chief in Egypt said.