The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the Poultry Farmers Union of Egypt have signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at developing the production and sustainability of the local industry.
According to Egypt’s Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, the deal provides for cooperation in areas of common interest through the transfer of advanced and innovative technological services. Systematic analysis and integrated methodologies should strengthen production in biotechnology and biosafety, with subsequent training and technical support for workers in the sector, the official Ministry statement said. The MOU also provides for the exchange of information and technologies, such as vaccines or monitoring systems, for the control of disease in the poultry population, especially diseases that may be transferred to humans such as bird flu.
In addition, a follow-up system will be established for the production and marketing of poultry, and innovative means of communication in that respect will be set up through social media, YouTube, and suchlike.
Al-Sayed al-Qusair, Egypt’s Minister of Agriculture, pointed out that the poultry industry in Egypt employs 3 million people and includes over EGP90 billion (some 5.8 billion dollars) in investment.
“The government prioritises poultry production as a fundamental pillar of the food security for Egyptians”, the minister said.
Meanwhile, Nasser Din Haj Amin, FAO’s representative in Cairo, noted that the first strategic goal of his organisation is to contribute to the eradication of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition among peoples.
In that regard, the signing of the memorandum of understanding with the Egyptian Poultry Farmers Union is important since it contributes to strengthening national capacities to withstand threats and crises, he stressed.
Watani International
10 May 2021