The Ministry of Agriculture has recently held an event in Assiut, some 350km south of Cairo, to celebrate the success of its new digital system of listing and coding farms growing pomegranate set for export. The digital system also uses satellite and GPS applications to enhance the international marketing of pomegranates, facilitate export procedures, and track shipments. Assiut is a hub for growing Egyptian pomegranates for export, and is the biggest producer of the fruit in Africa and the Arab region. It is proudly termed the “Red Gold”.
According to Ahmed al-Attar, head of the agricultural quarantine unit of the Ministry of Agriculture, the State is making tremendous efforts on the front of exporting agricultural produce, among which are Egyptian pomegranates. During the last three years, 38 new markets have been opened for them. Dr Attar pointed out that the Ministry of Agriculture is in the process of finalising deals to introduce Egypt’s pomegranates to markets in China, Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia.
He stressed the importance of digital technology, including GPS and satellite devices, to develop export systems of Egyptian produce. This, he said, enables importers to trace their shipments and reassure them that the agriculture quarantine regulations are being respected. Dr Attar said that the Ministry is after extending the digital system to cover all Egyptian produce for export, including citrus, potatoes and onions. Dr Attar said digitising export systems would give an edge to Egyptian produce, enabling thus better pricing and higher revenue for growers, peasants, and exporters.
Watani International
7 October 2020