Egyptian Minister of Agriculture Alaa Farouk met with representatives from the Italian Cooperation Office in Cairo and the European Union’s Integrated Rural Development Programme (EU-ZIRA3A) to coordinate agricultural initiatives. The discussion focused on integrating the EU-funded program with Egypt’s “Productive Village” project to boost rural income and local production.
Focus on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants
Officials reviewed current development activities across target governorates and identified opportunities to link them with the Productive Village initiative. Minister Farouk emphasized the potential of cultivating medicinal and aromatic plants, citing their high economic value and export potential.
“Expanding the cultivation of these crops in targeted villages would help improve rural households’ living standards,” Farouk said. He noted that connecting smallholder farmers with export companies could ensure products meet international quality standards.
The meeting included Tiberio Chiari, director of the Italian Cooperation Office, and Nicola Battistella, director of the EU-ZIRA3A program. Participants agreed to form a joint working group to streamline efforts. This committee will focus on increasing agricultural productivity and facilitating access to global markets for Egyptian exports.
Program Scope and Goals
The EU-ZIRA3A program operates in the Upper Egyptian governorates of Beni Suef, Assiut, and Sohag. Funded by the European Union and implemented by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, the project aims to improve the livelihoods of over 18,000 farmers. Key objectives include developing agricultural extension services and strengthening cooperatives.
Farouk called for close coordination between international organizations and domestic initiatives to avoid duplication. The ministry aims to leverage Egypt’s comparative advantage in specific crops to generate foreign currency and improve rural economic conditions.