By Manal Abdel Fattah
The Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development announced the launch of the “Integrated Desert Agriculture to Promote Resilient Livelihoods” project in Cairo.
This came in the presence of high-level figures, including representatives of the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), in addition to the implementing partners the Agricultural Research Center, the National Water Research Center, and the Desert Research Center.
The agency stated, in a press release today, Thursday, that the “Integrated Desert Agriculture to Promote Resilient Livelihoods” project will implement experimental sites in five governorates in Egypt, including Aswan, Sohag, Qena, Beheira, and New Valley.
The initiative will play a pivotal role in promoting resilient and transformative desert agriculture, by maximizing agricultural productivity in the desert, while minimizing environmental impacts and improving water sustainability, energy efficiency and food security.
She explained that the project, which is expected to continue for two years, aims to enhance the efficiency of water and energy use, increase crop productivity, create job opportunities for youth and women, and mitigate migration resulting from climate change.
She pointed out that the project will benefit approximately 2,500 medium-sized farmers, at least 10% of whom are women, in addition to large-scale farmers who have the financial ability to invest in new technologies.
She pointed out that the broader goal of the project is to encourage the adoption of integrated agriculture of desert lands outside the experimental sites, and to involve various stakeholders such as farmers, actors from the private sector and government institutions, which will lead to capacity building and strengthening cooperative solutions in the field of integrated agriculture of desert lands.
At the launch event, Ali Abu Saba, Director General of ICARDA, said: “Desert agriculture is rooted in Egypt’s historic conquest of deserts. Together with our partners, we are developing new integrated technologies such as net houses to boost agricultural production and livelihoods and strengthen food systems in deserts amid the climate crisis.” .
Eva Suarez Leonardo, Head of the Spanish Cooperation Office in Egypt, said: “Climate change has become a stark reality beyond expectations. In Egypt, where 95% of the land is desert-covered, integrated agriculture of desert lands is emerging as a transformative solution. By transforming barren lands “We are strengthening agricultural resilience and food security in the face of climate change.”
The project is consistent with the Agricultural Strategy 2030, which was developed by the Egyptian government, especially the third and fourth strategic goals, focusing on increasing agricultural productivity per unit of land and water, and achieving a higher degree of food security.
It is noteworthy that the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development is a Spanish public body committed to achieving sustainable development throughout the world.
In cooperation with both public institutions and civil society organizations, the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development focuses its efforts in Egypt on environmental transformation, gender equality and migration governance.
The Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development is committed to social and economic development in Egypt, ensuring that its work is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals and Egypt’s Vision 2030.
The International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) is an international research-for-development organization that provides innovative, science-based solutions to countries in non-tropical dry areas. The research aims to reduce poverty and enhance food, water, nutritional security and environmental health in the face of global challenges, which include climate change.
Since its founding in 1975, ICARDA has implemented research for development programs in 50 countries across the world’s dry regions, from Morocco in North Africa to Bangladesh in South Asia.
