UN project in Egypt helps farmers improve food security

A United Nations project in Egypt aims to enhance best agricultural practices among local farmers.

The Food and Agricultural Organization project educates farmers on the best harvesting practices as well as promotes modern techniques.

The programme mainly targets women and youth in five governorates.

“The most important thing is the marketing. They have to guarantee to me as a farmer that my right is preserved. I do not want the big trader and exporter to take what is my right,” one of the farmers, Ali Zaki Abdelmotaleb said.

In the past five years since its launch, it has reached 2,708 women and youth in cities where malnutrition accounts for 35% of the disease burden in children under five.

According to FAO representatives in Egypt, farmers are being trained in farming on the rooftops.

“We are improving their income through finding employment for the females. Secondly, we teach them how to farm their land more efficiently which will improve their income and help them sleep better. Moreover, instead of giving us one kilo of tomatoes per day, they will give us three kilos which will help feed the needy,” FAO Goodwill Ambassador, Darine El Khatib said.

Farmers say they also want the government to act as a negotiator between small farmers and exporters to ensure they get good prices for their produce.

The U.N. says one in every two children in Egypt under five suffers from some degree of anaemia.