Egyptian Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk expands seed partnership and launches JICA‑backed program with Arab countries

Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk met with representatives of the Arab Alliance for Potato Seed Production, local investors and PepsiCo to boost domestic potato seed output. The initiative aims to produce about 70% of summer potato seed locally, cut imports, and support smallholder farmers, enhancing food security and export potential.

Under the same ministerial leadership, a follow‑up program funded by Japan’s JICA was launched in Cairo. The programme, part of the “Market‑Oriented Agriculture for Arab Countries” project, brings together delegations from Egypt, Palestine, Morocco, Iraq and a virtual Sudan team, along with Japanese experts. It seeks to transfer knowledge from recent training in Japan, promote the SHEP approach, and conduct field visits in Minya to demonstrate practical applications for small farmers.

Both efforts aim to strengthen Egypt’s agricultural sector, improve supply chains, and foster regional cooperation among Arab nations.