Cairo, Egypt - The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation (FAO), in collaboration with Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation launched a new project to promote Climate-Smart Agriculture and agricultural biodiversity enhancing the adaptive capacity of vulnerable rural communities in old and new lands of Upper and Lower Egypt, with a specific focus on women.

New project funded by Canadian Government and implemented in collaboration with MoALR

The project, funded by Canadian government, aims at intensifying and diversifying smallholder agricultural production across the 36 target villages in Kafr Elsheikh, Beheira and Aswan governorates through the promotion of validated innovative and improved CSA technologies and practices as well as introducing sustainable crop management techniques which restore and protect on-farm biodiversity.

The Inception workshop of the project was attended by the Ambassador of Canada, H.E Louis Dumas, Dr. Ali Hozain, national coordinator of the project, and representative of the Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Dr. Nasredin Hag ElAmin, FAO Representative in Egypt, Dr. Nihal Balbaa, Deputy Governor of Beheira, Dr. Ghada Yahya, Deputy Governor of Aswan, representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment, the National Council for Women, and number of academics and researchers.

ElAmin highlighted that the project aligns with the priorities of the Egyptian government regarding improving agricultural productivity and the sustainable use of agricultural natural resources as well as with the strategic pathways of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO): better production and a better environment through innovation for sustainable agricultural production, and equitable access for small-scale producers, as well as adaptation to and mitigation of the impacts of climate change through the application of integrated, sustainable, and flexible agricultural and food systems.

“Climate change is one of the most stressing topics currently, and climate efforts are crucial for achieving SDGs. Dr. Nasredin emphasized. He expressed his hope that the project would contribute to enhancing agriculture, irrigation, and early warning systems in Egypt and increase agricultural productivity and food security.

H.E. Ambassador Louis Dumas, Canadian Ambassador in Egypt, expressed his appreciation to the Egyptian line ministries involved as well as FAO efforts to move forward with this project as he believes that the project is a perfect example of Canada's commitment to the NEXUS in Egypt, which aims to integrate efforts in the areas of water, energy, and food security.

Moreover, Dr. Ali Hozaien pointed that climate change is an urgent issue that needs a developed environment and approaches to agriculture that can cope with climate change impacts and challenges he also highlighted that the project is crucial for presenting smart agriculture techniques to enhance irrigation and agriculture production for areas owned by smallholder farmers and to prevent agricultural land fragmentation.

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