Egypt's govt denies paying bigger attention to infrastructure at expense of agriculture areas

CAIRO - 5 April 2022: The Cabinet has denied reports pointing out growing state interest in implementing infrastructure projects at the expense of maximizing the agricultural lot.

The Center, in a statement Tuesday, said it had contacted the Agriculture Ministry to verify the news.

The Ministry dismissed as baseless all such reports, stressing keenness of the government to increase the agricultural area and upgrade the agricultural system through reclaiming lands and introducing new irrigation methods.

Egypt's agricultural area has increased by 9 percent to reach 9.7 million feddans in 2021 up from 8.9 feddans in 2014, the Ministry made it clear.

Work is underway to implement an agricultural horizontal expansion plan meant to reclaim five million new feddans in Sinai and New Delta regions in the coming three years, the Ministry said, adding that this should help achieve food security and self-sufficiency in crops.

The Center urged all media outlets to verify any information from bodies concerned so as not to circulate false news.