News in Brief:
– Facing a feed shortage, Egypt plans to boost domestic corn and soybean production to create a strategic fodder reserve.
– The government reviewed existing cultivation by agencies and identified plans to expand these crops, leveraging existing storage capacity to ensure animal agriculture sustainability.
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly met with key officials recently to discuss plans for increasing domestic production of corn and soybeans. These form a crucial component of animal feed. The move aims to address concerns about fodder availability for livestock in the country.
The meeting was attended by Agriculture Minister Elsayed ElKosayer, representatives of the National Service Projects Agency and the Egypt Future Agency. It focused on means to create a strategic reserve of fodder and utilize agricultural waste for the feed industry.
Accordingly, Prime Minister Madbouly reiterated the importance of following President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s directives to address the feed shortage for poultry, livestock, and fish. He highlighted the need for a strategic stock of feed and repurposing existing silos as fodder warehouses.
Egypt’s feed consumption and corn demand
Meantime, Egypt’s annual consumption of concentrated feed stands at approximately 24 million tonnes (MT), according to Agriculture Minister ElKosayer. Of this, corn, a key ingredient, accounts for 12 million tonnes, with a domestic availability of 7-8 million tonnes. ElKosayer confirmed that the Ministry of Supply and the Agricultural Bank of Egypt possess sufficient storage capacity to implement the proposed plan.
Additionally, Mohamed Al-Homsani, spokesperson for the Cabinet, reported that the government is reviewing the extent of corn and soybean cultivation by the National Service Projects Agency and the Egypt Future Agency. Based on this assessment, they identified a trend towards expanding the cultivation of these crops to bridge the gap and meet the nation’s feed requirements.
Overall, the significance of a comprehensive plan that leverages the potential of corn and soybean crops to build strategic reserves for the future, was highlighted. This initiative signifies Egypt’s proactive approach to ensuring fodder security and supporting the sustainability of its animal agriculture sector.
