The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation participated in an expanded opening meeting held in Al-Gharbia Governorate to address acute air pollution episodes anticipated during the 2025 season. This initiative is part of national efforts to combat the annual ‘black cloud’ caused by open burning of rice straw. Representatives from the Ministry of Environment, local authorities, and relevant agencies attended the session. n nDr. Alaa Azouz, Head of the Agricultural Extension Sector, stated that a comprehensive strategy has been developed to manage agricultural waste, aiming to eliminate uncontrolled burning and transform rice straw into valuable products such as organic fertilizers and animal feed. This shift supports environmental protection while generating economic returns for farmers. The plan includes deploying machinery for collecting, shredding, and compacting crop residues, alongside field-based awareness campaigns to educate farmers on sustainable practices. n nAzouz highlighted that these measures are expected to create new employment opportunities and increase agricultural income. He emphasized that coordination between the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment exemplifies effective institutional collaboration in tackling environmental challenges and safeguarding public health. n nThe meeting concluded with a call for sustained inter-agency coordination, expanded utilization of agricultural byproducts, and strengthened monitoring mechanisms to advance sustainable development and support Egypt’s Vision 2030. n— news from (جريدة المال)n
— News Original —The Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation participated in the expanded opening meeting held in Al-Gharbia Governorate to confront acute air pollution episodes for the 2025 season, as part of state efforts to combat the black cloud resulting from burning rice straw. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Environment, the governorate, and concerned entities. n nDr. Alaa Azouz, Head of the Agricultural Extension Sector, affirmed that the ministry has developed a comprehensive plan for managing agricultural waste, aiming to prevent random burning and convert rice straw into value-added products such as animal feed and organic fertilizers, achieving economic benefit and reducing environmental harm. The plan also includes providing the necessary equipment for collecting, shredding, and compacting waste, in addition to awareness and field guidance campaigns to raise farmers’ awareness. n nAzouz indicated that the ministry seeks through these efforts to create new job opportunities and maximize farmers’ economic returns, stressing that cooperation between the Ministries of Agriculture and Environment represents a model of institutional coordination in facing environmental challenges and protecting citizens’ health. n nThe meeting concluded by emphasizing the importance of continuing coordination among executive bodies, expanding the scope of agricultural waste utilization, and enhancing follow-up and evaluation mechanisms to support sustainable development and achieve Egypt’s 2030 Vision.