Prominent Businessman MP Mohamed Abou El Enein said that agriculture is an issue of national security, calling for outlining policies aim to promote food security.
He also paid tribute to the Egyptian farmers, who play a national role in supporting their homeland's economy by their keenness to push the wheel of production despite the danger posed by coronavirus pandemic.
Abou El Enein praised the draft law submitted by the government to suspend the provisions of Law No. 113 of 1939 on the agricultural land tax for another two years, noting that this will contribute to easing the burdens on farmers.
During the Parliament's plenary session, held today, Abou El Enein said, " We have to be aware of the current serious situation, especially that Egypt imports about 45% of our food needs from abroad, as well as attempts of some countries to politicize the food issue, which is very dangerous."
The deputy head of Mostaqbal Watan party also warned of the repercussions of coronavirus outbreak that will negatively affect the whole world countries.
Abou El Enein pointed out that the government is actively outlining economic reform process, urging the state to pay much attention to the farmers, agriculture, calling for increasing the supply prices of strategic crops to encourage farmers to grow them.
He called for raising the supply price of wheat in order to increase the supply rate to 6 million tons annually instead of 3.5 million tons, adding that this will subsequently lead to the increase in the cultivated areas to between 4: 4.5 million acres (currently 3.3 million acres).
He also stressed the necessity of setting a higher price for the purchase of cotton, compared with the previous year's prices, which led to a decline in the cultivated areas of cotton in 2020.
The MP also pointed out to increasing the cultivated areas of corn, dry legumes and oilseed crops to achieve a state of self-sufficiency and stopping the import of those crops from abroad.
The law maker also stressed the importance of reducing energy prices for agricultural production in light of the global low oil price by 70%.
The Egyptian businessman called on the parliament to enforce a health insurance law for farmers, who are the backbone of the agricultural production, enact a pension system for farmers similar to other society segments, and re-activate the agricultural solidarity law issued in 2014 to protect farmers against any natural disasters affecting agricultural production.
Abou El-Enein stressed the need to correct the legislative reform system in favor of the agricultural sector, especially since the workforce in Egypt was followed by farmers.
In addition, he noted that the state has to take seriously the need to achieve self-sufficiency and food security, stressing that most countries are greatly supporting the agricultural sector, which receives an annual world subsidies estimated at 420 billion dollars, including 300 billion dollars in the United States and the European Union.
He stated that the agricultural sector provides 55% of Egypt's food needs, contributes 12% of the gross domestic product, and 20% of commodities exports
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