Egypt has been granted a three-year membership at the International Seed Testing Association in honor of its achievements in developing new, highly-yielding varieties.
Joining the organization grants Egypt authority to issue international certificates for testing export seeds, which will increase exports and drive up national income, according to Salah Mowawad, the head of Egypt’s Central Seed Testing Administration.
In a related development, the Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, Amin Abaza, said on Wednesday that Egypt currently tops the list of the world's most productive rice producers with 2.4-4.5 tonnes per feddan. He also noted the country leads sugar cane producers with 34-50 tonnes per feddan. Wheat and maize harvests are also up to 18 ardebs and 23 ardebs per feddan respectively, according to the minister.
Abaza attributed the surge in productivity to collaboration between agricultural research centers and Egyptian universities.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
