Dr. Mohamed Ezzat, Deputy President of Desert Research Center for Projects and Supervisor of the Research Stations, conducted field tours at its Research Stations in Siwa and the New Valley to assess the availability of services provided to the residents of Siwa and The New Valley.
He also visited Tagzirti and Khamisa farms in Siwa to follow up on the work of the project “Biological control of the red palm weevil”
Ezz further monitored the service role of Siwa Research Station in providing subsidized goods to the oasis residents, as well as wheat milling operations for locals to achieve bread self-sufficiency, the recycling of palm agricultural residues, and the production of organic fertilizers to enhance soil productivity and combat the prevailing salinity stresses in Siwa.
At the New Valley, he visited wheat and local fava bean fields. It is worth noting that “Mariout 2” seeds – a special variety of Egyptian local fava bean, known for its high productivity and strong disease resistance – are registered under the name of the Desert Research Center.
In addition, he followed up on the work at the seed bank and inspected the greenhouses cultivating Azolla. Ezz praised the station’s role in raising farmers’ awareness about incorporating this plant into animal, poultry, and fish feed formulations to alleviate financial burdens amid rising feed prices.
It is worth mentioning that the New Valley Research Station is a pioneer in the region in raising awareness among farmers and small investors regarding compost production and the safe disposal of agricultural residues.
