Egypt to expand greenhouse agriculture and boost date production

Egypt’s Ministry of Agriculture has set up a national programme to increase vegetable cultivation and decrease its reliance on foreign imports, according to Egypt Today. The Egyptian government plays a central part in improving water use by training farmers and creating new varieties. Meanwhile, the government is also setting up a giant date plantation that will make Egypt the world’s second largest producer of dates, with planting area set to increase 20%, which will also be more productive due to the use of more modern agricultural methods. The announcement was made during the inauguration of the National Greenhouses Project in the city of Ramadan. According to a presidential spokesperson, the national project to build 100,000 greenhouses is to allow counter-season crops production, while providing employment, enhancing the quality of exported products and boosting food production.