Egypt’s Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Fayza Abul Naga on Tuesday said Egypt is seeking to benefit from the Australian experience in the field of agriculture.

At a meeting that grouped also Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Amin Farid and visiting Australian Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, Abul Naga added that the current situation in Egypt requires contriving more viable means for boosting cooperation between Egypt and other countries in the world, especially in the domains of human resources, agricultural production and education.

Abul Naga explained at the meeting the current state of affairs in Egypt and efforts exerted by the government to push forward the Egyptian economy.

The visiting minister, according to a statement by the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, voiced his country's readiness to help restore economic and social stability in Egypt.

Moreover, Egypt will increase cotton-cultivated areas to a total of 500,000 feddans from 350,000 recorded in 2010, said Agriculture Minister Ayman Abu Hadeed on Tuesday.

Addressing a news conference, the minister said the prices of main crops including wheat and corn will be increased. He added that an agreement to that effect has been reached with the ministries of social solidarity and finance.

As for urban encroachment on agricultural lands during the time of the January 25 revolution, the minister said the Ministry, in cooperation with the Armed Force, has removed encroachments on a total area of 3,680 feddans.

The removal was at the encroachers' expense, he noted. The minister said the ministry is considering mechanisms for implementing the sustainable agricultural development strategy. (SIS)

Global Arab Network