Pakistan, Egypt agree to enhance agricultural cooperation, improve cotton production and quality

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain held a high-level meeting with Ambassador of Egypt to Pakistan Dr. Ehab Mohamed Abdelhamid Hassan, during which they discussed ways to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in agriculture, food security and modern agricultural technologies.

The federal minister said Pakistan highly valued its longstanding and brotherly relations with Egypt. He appreciated Egypt’s progress in modern agriculture, improved water management, climate-resilient farming and agricultural technology.

Rana Tanveer Hussain expressed Pakistan’s desire to benefit from Egypt’s technical expertise and experience in improving cotton production and quality. He said Egypt’s experience in developing improved cotton varieties, quality seeds, modern production practices, crop management and value addition could prove highly beneficial for Pakistan.

The minister also proposed enhanced cooperation between Pakistani and Egyptian agricultural research institutions, including exchanges of experts, joint research projects, training programmes and sharing of modern agricultural practices.

He emphasized the need to expand cooperation in water-efficient irrigation, quality seed development, biotechnology, climate-resilient agriculture, agricultural machinery, livestock, horticulture and agricultural research.

Rana Tanveer Hussain said the government was focusing on strengthening linkages among modern technology, quality agricultural inputs, research and extension services to increase agricultural production, reduce production costs and improve farmers’ incomes.

Egyptian Ambassador Dr. Ehab Mohamed Abdelhamid Hassan reaffirmed Egypt’s commitment to further strengthening agricultural cooperation between the two countries. He said relevant Egyptian institutions would be encouraged to explore opportunities for cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

The ambassador briefed the Pakistani side on Egypt’s experience in cotton, irrigation, agricultural research and farming in water-scarce areas, and welcomed greater interaction and exchange of expertise between Pakistani and Egyptian experts and research institutions.

The meeting agreed to maintain close coordination to make agricultural cooperation between the two countries more effective and result-oriented and to identify practical areas that could benefit farmers, agricultural production and food security in both countries.