Egypt’s Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk discusses strategic partnership with World Bank on food security

On 9 June 2026, Egypt’s Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Alaa Farouk, met with Maskrim Barhan, the World Bank’s regional director for the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan. The two sides reviewed ongoing and prospective cooperation aimed at strengthening Egypt’s agricultural infrastructure, boosting small‑holder farmer incomes and ensuring national food security.

Key topics included expanding irrigation efficiency, climate‑adapted grain production, and financing mechanisms such as the World Bank’s “Agri Connect” programme, which targets 300 million small farmers. They also discussed the “Productive Village” initiative to enhance local value‑addition, digital services for cooperatives, and increased funding for climate‑resilient farming projects. The World Bank reaffirmed its commitment to double agricultural financing and support reforms that attract private investment in Egypt’s food and agriculture sectors.