CAIRO, July 15 (MENA) – President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Tuesday stressed the importance of improving local livestock breeds to increase their productivity in meat and dairy.

The comments came during a meeting with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Sherif Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa Farouk, and Baha El-Ghannam, Executive Director of the Future of Egypt for Sustainable Development initiative.

Presidential spokesman Mohamed El-Shennawy said the meeting reviewed the country's strategic reserves of key commodities, including wheat, sugar, oil, meat, and poultry, noting that Egypt’s food security remains stable and reassuring.

The discussion covered details of procurement contracts, including 3.4 million tons of wheat, 192,000 tons of crude vegetable oil, 4,000 tons of frozen poultry, and 6,000 tons of frozen meat, the spokesman further said. The meeting highlighted that the government is working to diversify wheat import sources to ensure supply continuity and avoid disruptions, he added.

Sisi emphasized the need for full coordination between all relevant state institutions working on food security, ensuring their efforts are aligned with national policies. In this context, cooperation with the Future of Egypt initiative was highlighted to identify land areas in the New Delta suitable for strategic crop cultivation, with the goal of maximizing cultivated acreage and increasing self-sufficiency.

The meeting addressed ongoing efforts to regulate bakeries, mills, and local markets, and discussed progress in the “one-day market” initiative, which launched in November 2024 with 200 markets and expanded in May 2025 with more than 200 additional markets.

Also, it reviewed plans to expand partnerships with the private sector and attract foreign investment in retail. Updates were presented on new commercial chain projects in Obour, Nasr City, and Qalyub, Shennawy said. Preparations are underway to launch a government-backed retail chain named Carry On, the first unified brand in partnership with the private sector, according to him.

Efforts to improve domestic trade and digitize subsidy beneficiary databases were also brought up, aiming to ensure that subsidies reach those who meet eligibility criteria.

Food security issues were discussed in detail, including the development of the commodity exchange as a mechanism to stabilize markets and prices, the spokesman said. The exchange is expected to support both producers and consumers, while enhancing the availability of key goods at reasonable prices, he further said. Exporters and importers have begun registering with the exchange, and draft legislation is being prepared to govern its operations, drawing on international models, he added.

The meeting also covered policies on strategic crop cultivation and procurement, agricultural digitization, cost-efficiency measures, and fertilizer supply, particularly nitrates and urea. Gradual and balanced reforms were recommended to protect farmers and ensure food security.

The president reiterated the need to boost red meat and dairy output by improving local breeds, alongside efforts to enhance agricultural productivity and mechanization. (MENA)

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