Mr. Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, directed support for North Sinai farmers during his visit, in a meeting with Major General Dr. Khaled Maghawer, Governor of North Sinai, attended by Dr. Hossam Shawky, Director of the Desert Research Center, along with executive and parliamentary leaders, to explore ways to support the agricultural sector in the governorate.
The Minister ordered a 50% reduction in the prices of agricultural mechanization services for Sinai farmers and called for the rapid provision of seeds, seedlings, and fertilizers, alongside strengthening technical and advisory support. He also tasked the Desert Research Center with launching a comprehensive system to support Sinai olive cultivation and marketing, intensifying efforts to combat the red palm weevil, and supporting its farmers, in order to enhance agricultural development and food security in the governorate.
The Minister of Agriculture and the Governor of North Sinai also laid the foundation stone for the rehabilitation of the Desert Research Station in Sheikh Zuweid, in the presence of Dr. Hossam Shawky and several officials, reflecting the state’s direction toward rebuilding Sinai and supporting sustainable development there.
The Minister emphasized that reviving the station sends a message that Sinai has turned the page on terrorism, noting that it will serve as the technical arm to support farmers and provide seedlings and genetic resources suited to the region’s conditions, converting outputs from the gene bank into practical applications that increase the productivity of desert lands.
The station includes a plant gene bank for the Egyptian deserts and serves as a cornerstone for scientific research and food security. During the visit, seedlings, production supplies, and in-kind support were distributed to the residents and farmers of Sheikh Zuweid.
The Minister also allocated 5 million EGP to support small and micro projects for Sinai women, creating job opportunities and promoting economic empowerment, in coordination with the governorate and the Desert Research Center, during the ceremony marking the station’s rehabilitation. He further directed that the number of olive seedlings distributed be doubled to reach 100,000 to support small farmers, and that rewards be given to outstanding students under the “Learn and Benefit” initiative. The Minister emphasized that integrating the people of Sinai into comprehensive development is a state priority, in recognition of their sacrifices and in support of the stability and development of the “Land of Turquoise.”
