The Agricultural Professions Syndicate started implementing President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s initiative to plant one million fruit trees in poorer areas, parks, public squares, schools, and the main and secondary roads in various cities and villages, said the Chairman of the Agricultural Professions Syndicate Sayyed Khalifa.
The campaign began with the planting of trees in five areas in Old Cairo (The Religions Complex’s road, Amr Ibn al-Aas Mosque, Abu Sufyan Square, Hassan al-Anwar Street and the Al-Malek al-Saleh area), and planting 10 areas in Imbaba district of Giza governorate with fruit trees such as lemons, oranges, and tangerines, Khalifa added.
The project will be implemented in the rest of the governorates in accordance to a timeline, he added. It is also being implemented in cooperation between the Agricultural Professions Syndicate, the For the Love of Egypt coalition, local authorities in governorates, and other professional syndicates Khalifa said.
The campaign has two goals. The first is to achieve food security in poor areas, while the second is to reduce the effect of climate change and to spread awareness of its risk among young people, educating them on the role of trees have confronting climate change, according to Khalifa.
Khalifa invited the Ministries of Youth and Environment as well as businessmen to participate in this national campaign, which serves the poor and preserves the environment.
The Environment and Higher Education ministries will participate in the campaign, as well as other ministries concerned with the pollution risks.
Khalifa noted the importance the private sector plays in the initiative, which addresses the negative effects of climate change and the desertification facing Egypt, especially in light of urban expansion.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
