LE 11bln allocated for water-saving projects to increase agricultural area, achieve food security

CAIRO - 10 March 2023: The economic and social development plan for the current fiscal year, presented by the Minister of Planning, Dr. Hala Al-Saeed, and approved by Parliament in its two chambers (Representatives and Senate), aims to continue efforts to achieve the goal of the National Human Rights Strategy.

 

The development plan also aims to adopt appropriate plans to achieve the goals of local agricultural production growth, and provide the necessary water to increase the agricultural area, by directing investments amounting to (11) billion pounds distributed over a number of projects.

 

At the forefront of the projects is the completion and development of the Toshka project, with appropriations of (4.4) billion pounds, with the aim of achieving water security and developing water resources in the Toshka project, to serve the control of about 540-620 thousand feddans, and to maintain the optimal operation of the High Dam and the Toshka spillway.

 

The projects also include completing the national project for the rehabilitation and lining of canals, with appropriations of 24.7 billion pounds, with the aim of developing and preserving water resources, as well as completing the project to develop the integrated plan for water resources, with appropriations of 63 million pounds, in order to raise the efficiency of the water management system.

 

It is noteworthy that the most important objectives of the National Human Rights Strategy, which the 22/23 year plan seeks to achieve, in order to achieve food security, include: adopting appropriate plans to achieve the goals of local agricultural production growth, providing the necessary water to increase agricultural productivity, and developing innovations, agricultural scientific research and modern technology in the field of agriculture.

 

The objective also include expanding agricultural industrialization projects, increasing farmers' awareness of the best agricultural practices, reducing encroachments on agricultural lands, rehabilitating degraded ones, and promoting legalization of squatter lands in implementation of the law.

 

This comes in addition to working on the development of livestock, pourtly and fisheries, enhancing the provision of reserves of strategic commodities, updating the legislation and regulations organizing to ensure the safety and quality of local and imported food products, developing quality standards for many commodities of agricultural products, strengthening the capabilities and role of the National Food Safety Authority, enhancing market supervision and combating monopolistic practices.