The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has underlined the necessity of integrating efforts by various bodies in Egypt to fight bird flu, reported the State Information Service (SIS) on Sunday.
A two-day workshop was held under the auspices of Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Amin Abaza, and organized by FAO’s regional Near East office. At the closing session, the international organization stated that it was necessary to take into consideration the preservation of Egyptian poultry’s genetic diversity and origin.
In statements issued to the press last weekend, Abaza announced that the ministry has prepared a plan for restructuring and modernizing the poultry industry in Egypt, the reports added.
The minister noted the government’s keenness to protect the national poultry industry, and is expecting investments in this sector of about LE 18 billion.
Abaza also pointed out that about 80 percent of poultry farms were completely clear of bird flu.
For his part, Assistant Director-General of FAO Regional Representative for the Near East Mohamed Ibrahim Albraithen, said that the organization is keen to support Egyptian efforts to fight this disease.
The organization is planning several projects and activities as part of a national strategy for fighting avian flu in the Middle East, especially in Egypt, SIS reported.
