Agriculture Ministry Reviews Efforts to Increase Agricultural Area by 3.5 Million Feddans

The Minister of Agriculture reviewed the state's efforts in implementing horizontal agricultural expansion projects, as it is considered one of the most important axes for strengthening the policy of self-sufficiency and reducing the gap of products, which aimed to increase the agricultural area by more than 3.5 million feddans during the past and coming period, Including desert cultivation.

The most important projects are Toshka, New Delta project, the development of North and Central Sinai, and the development of the countryside, in addition to other projects in Upper Egypt and the New Valley.

The minister reviewed the Ministry's efforts for vertical expansion to increase productivity and raise the efficiency of the land and water units, by intensifying applied studies and research aimed at improving the productivity of strategic crops by developing new varieties with high productivity, early maturity, low water need and tolerant to climate changes.

5 new varieties were developed and registered, bringing the productivity of an acre to more than 20 ardebs, in addition to what is also being done for rice, corn, cotton, soybean crops, and others, in addition to implementing the directives of the political leadership, to increase reliance on highly approved seeds during the past two years.

He added that the percentage of coverage of approved seeds for the wheat crop has been increased from 35% in the past years, to rise for the first time to 70% during the current season. From some countries on Egyptian varieties due to their quality and increased productivity rates.

He explained that the national program for vegetable seed production succeeded in the last period in developing and registering 26 varieties and hybrids of 10 main vegetable crops (tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, watermelons, cantaloupes, peas, beans, cowpeas, cucumbers, and zucchini).

He added that Egypt has achieved self-sufficiency for 9 crop groups, including vegetables, fruits and some other commodities, with a surplus for export.

"We have also come close to achieving self-sufficiency in sugar, and the production gap for other crops such as wheat, corn, beans, and others has been narrowed."