With 24 million euros… European support to promote sustainable agriculture in the Egyptian countryside
With 24 million euros… European support to promote sustainable agriculture in the Egyptian countryside
In a new step towards achieving comprehensive and sustainable development, the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, in cooperation with the European Union, launched an ambitious project for integrated rural development, with funding amounting to 24 million euros. The project targets three main governorates in Upper Egypt: Sohag, Assiut, and Beni Suef, and is implemented through the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation; To create a qualitative shift in the lives of thousands of small farmers.
This project aims to improve the quality of life in rural communities, by enhancingagricultural extension services, developing the animal production and plant health sectors, in addition to improving field irrigation systems in the targeted areas. The project reflects a growing international interest in supporting the most needy groups, and directing funding towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in developing countries.
This initiative comes at a time when Egyptian rural communities need serious and systematic interventions to rebuild the agricultural production system, increase the ability to adapt to climate change, and provide new economic opportunities that guarantee social stability and preserve environmental resources. It is not limited to immediate goals, but rather represents the beginning of a long-term partnership, based on economic, social and environmental empowerment, and encourages the transfer of technology and knowledge to the heart of agricultural communities, which contributes to building a countryside capable of competition and production. And prosperity.
An integrated development vision with national leadership
In this context, the Minister of Agriculture – Mr. Alaa Farouk – confirmed during the opening of the first meeting of the project’s technical committee that this initiative represents a milestone in the process of developing the Egyptian countryside, noting that it is consistent with Egypt’s Vision 2030, which seeks to achieve comprehensive development in which the social, economic and environmental dimensions are integrated.
The Minister pointed out the importance of supporting agricultural cooperative societies, as a basic pillar for enhancing the efficiency of the agricultural value chain, reducing losses, and raising crop productivity. Which enhances the competitiveness of Egyptian products in local and international markets, increases the income of small farmers, and relieves them of the burdens of production and marketing.
Farouk stressed that the project contributes to establishing a new model for comprehensive rural development, based on partnership and integration, and taking into account the specificities and needs of each region, while ensuring that support is directed to the most needy groups, especially women and youth, through specific programs to empower and train them and provide the necessary funding for their projects.
Empowering women and youth at the heart of the project
One of the most prominent components of the project is the interest in the economic and social empowerment of rural women and youth, through designing specialized training programs, and providing small and medium-sized financing mechanisms that support the establishment and development of agricultural projects, thus providing sustainable job opportunities and enhancing their role as partners in development.
The Minister of Agriculture stressed that empowering women and youth in rural communities is a strategic necessity to achieve comprehensive and equitable development. These groups represent great human potential that has not yet been optimally invested. He stressed the importance of creating a supportive environment that includes training, technical support, providing information and resources, and linking beneficiaries to markets, enabling them to achieve economic independence and effective participation in the development of the agricultural community.
Strategic partnership for a sustainable economy
In this context, Angelina Eichhorist, the European Union Ambassador to Cairo, welcomed this initiative as a successful model of cooperation between the European Union and Egypt, stressing that the Union is committed to supporting agricultural development and the transfer of modern technology. To enhance local capabilities and achieve sustainable transformation in the Egyptian countryside.
The ambassador praised the grant allocated within the Integrated Rural Development Programme, considering that this investment reflects the European Union’s confidence in the partnership with Egypt, and its endeavor to make a tangible impact on the lives of farmers. In addition, the Italian Ambassador, Michele Korani, expressed his aspiration for more cooperation with Egypt in the field of modernizing the agricultural cooperative system, and invited the Minister of Agriculture to visit Italy to learn about the Italian experience in this field, which reflects a strategic direction towards exchanging experiences and localizing successful models.
This international cooperation enhances the opportunities for building a smart and advanced agricultural sector, based on innovation and knowledge, and restores the Egyptian countryside to its position as a source of production and prosperity, which contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially Goals (1) and (2) related to the eradication of poverty and hunger, and Goal (17) related to establishing partnerships in order to achieve the goals.
Towards a more just and sustainable countryside
In conclusion, theThe Earth Guards Foundation confirms that this project represents an effective model for transforming international financing into real development tools that advance the Egyptian countryside on the foundations of justice, knowledge, and effective partnership; Empowering women and youth, supporting small farmers, and developing the production and service infrastructure are strategic pillars for developing a resilient countryside, achieving its food security, and effectively engaging in a sustainable economic path. In light of responsible international partnerships such as these, this project opens the horizon for a real development transformation, reflects the aspirations of citizens, and preserves the right of future generations to a more just and sustainable future.
