Desert Research Center (DRC), represented by its Siwa Research Station, participated in the 9th International Festival of Egyptian Dates in Siwa Oasis. The participation was directed by Dr. Hossam Shawky, President of DRC, and overseen by Dr. Mohamed Ezzat, Vice President for Research Stations.
The station showcased a variety of its products, including olive oil, local Siwan dates, and Medjool dates. Major General Mohamed El-Zamlout, Governor of Matrouh, expressed his admiration for the products, commending the high quality and standards of the Medjool variety, noting its suitability for export, and recommended that the agricultural practices used to cultivate it be shared and adopted throughout Siwa Oasis.
The Center’s pavilion also featured solar-powered date dryers, which drew significant interest from visitors, including Dr. Abd El-wahab Zaid, Secretary-General of the Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation (the festival’s patron).
He highlighted the importance of these units, designed specifically for small-scale farmers, which were produced and distributed by Desert Research Center through the Center for Sustainable Development of Matrouh Resources and Siwa Research Station.
The solar date dryer model was so well-received that an official from the Chamber of Commerce offered to cover the manufacturing costs for ten units to be distributed to the local community in Siwa. Meanwhile, the Governor of Matrouh pledged to increase the total number of these dryers to 200, to be provided to small-scale farmers across the oasis.
