The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, the Ministry of Supply and Internal Trade, the National Service Products Organisation (NASPO), and the Agricultural Bank of Egypt (ABE) have signed a joint cooperation protocol for the provision of livestock for distribution to small farmers for breeding and fattening in different governorates.
Minister of Agriculture Abdel Moneim El Banna said that this protocol aims to achieve an ambitious plan for the development of livestock, increasing the nation’s proportion of red meat, and working to reduce the food gap from animal protein in Egypt.
He added that under this protocol, it was agreed that each party would perform specific work to implement the directives of the political leadership in this regard in terms of managing and importing livestock, providing credit facilities, inspecting barns, and issuing operating licenses to small farmers applying for the project.
He noted that the role of the Ministry of Agriculture is to issue import approvals for cattle, in accordance with the conditions of the General Organisation for Veterinary Services, as well as to perform the necessary tests for barn owners who apply for the project to determine their suitability for fattening. The General Organisation for Veterinary Services will provide vaccines to breeders.
He pointed out that the NASPO will determine the quantity of and specifications required for the livestock.
Mustafa Amin, director of the NASPO, said the organisation will also contract for the provision of livestock in cooperation with the Agriculture Ministry and the ABE and complete procedures of their importation, while taking all technical, veterinary, and subsistence measures necessary until delivery to beneficiaries of the project.
He added that the prices of livestock will be determined according to the price of provision plus all expenses incurred by the NASPO.
Supply Minister Ali El Moselhy said that his ministry will receive one-third of the number of livestock granted to beneficiaries at a minimum, according to the market price at the time, being a national body specialised in providing strategic food commodities to citizens at appropriate prices to help alleviate their suffering.
According to El Sayed El Kosayar, chairperson of the ABE, the bank will provide the necessary funds for the import of cattle from abroad, according to the funding available to it. The bank will also study the requests of customers wishing to purchase livestock under the national project to revive veal with an interest of 5%, in accordance with the rules and regulations specified for this project.
He added that the bank will participate in the field tripartite committees that will determine the appropriateness of breeding barns. It will also provide the NASPO with a list of beneficiaries and their data and each of their shares. Finally, the bank will also take part in follow up committees during the implementation.
