Egypt's Sisi directs to grant farmers additional import incentives to supply larger quantities of wheat

CAIRO – 13 March 2022: President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi directed to grant an additional import incentive to the price of local wheat for the current agricultural season to encourage farmers to supply the largest possible quantities, amid ingoing wheat crisis supply to some Middle Eastern countries due to the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian military escalation.

 

Egypt is the largest importers of wheat in the world, especially from Ukraine and Russia. Due to the military escalation in Ukraine by Russian troops wheat supply to Egypt has been affected and caused an increase of the price of the unsubsidized bread by 25 piasters per one loaf. Also, the country has cancelled two international tenders of wheat due to bids of high prices. However, the government assured that the wheat stocks are enough until the end of this year, especially the near harvest of the locally produced wheat.

 

President Sisi’s orders were given on Sunday during a meeting with Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly; Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Dr. Mohamed Abdel-Ati; Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, El-Sayed El-Quseer; Head of the Engineering Authority of the Armed Forces, Major General A.H. Ihab El-Far; and Director of the National Service Projects Organization, Major General A.H. Walid Abu Al-Majd.

 

The meeting reviewed the implementation process of a number of national projects in the food security and agriculture sector nationwide; particularly the status of some strategic crops, especially wheat, as local harvest seasons approach, said Rady.

 

The President also reviewed efforts to increase harvest productivity, within the framework of the state's policy of horizontal expansion of agricultural lands, and vertical expansion of wheat quality and quantity, using the best types of seeds, modern irrigation methods, and agricultural mechanization, Rady continued

 

The executive position of the sugar cane cultivation stations in Kom Ombo and Wadi Al-Sa'ida were also reviewed, including agricultural equipment, machinery and irrigation systems, as well as fertilizers and seeds used in this regard.

 

The spokesman added that the meeting reviewed efforts to enhance the fisheries sector, especially through the establishment of fish feed factories. This is in addition to the development of lakes nationwide, particularly the lakes of the High Dam, Bardawil, Burullus and Manzala, through cleansing operations, dredging, and removing encroachments to improve its environmental aspects. This also goes towards increasing their productivity and further developing hatcheries.

 

President El-Sisi directed to provide all the financial resources necessary to establish fish hatcheries at the highest level, in order to provide the lakes with the necessary fish, while also preventing the process of overfishing. This is in order to contribute to strengthening the fisheries’ development system and maximizing the fish stock in Egypt.

 

The President was also briefed on the efforts to develop livestock across the republic, especially through the national project for veal, and the development of milk collection centers, as well as improving breeding and providing advanced veterinary care through free veterinary medical convoys where more than a thousand were recently organized to treat and examine livestock.

 

In this regard, President El-Sisi directed to expand the provision of high-productivity cow breeds for meat and dairy, due to their direct economic return for the benefit of breeders, in addition to their contribution to supporting meat and dairy production for the local market and strengthening the related food industries.