Dr. Tarek Soliman, Head of the Livestock and Poultry Development
Sector, stated that the campaigns were carried out under direct instructions
from Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk and Deputy Minister Engineer Mustafa
El-Sayyad, following the recent unjustified surge in yellow corn prices. The
effort seeks to curb monopolistic practices and ensure the availability of
high-quality feed at reasonable prices.
Soliman noted that representatives from the Ministry of
Agriculture and Land Reclamation, the Supply Investigations Department, the
Competition Protection and Anti-Monopoly Authority, and the Consumer Protection
Agency, along with relevant agriculture and supply directorates, participated
in the campaigns. Joint committees were formed to patrol all governorates and
conduct simultaneous nationwide inspections to prevent hoarding, withholding,
or any disruption of sales aimed at market manipulation and price inflation.
The campaigns also covered vehicles used in transporting and
trading feed and raw materials. Samples were collected and subjected to
laboratory testing to ensure the quality and safety of the products circulating
in the market.
Soliman confirmed that strict legal measures were
immediately taken against violators. He stressed the importance of maintaining
a steady and competitive supply of high-quality feed, particularly in light of
the ongoing growth in meat and poultry production, which depends on a reliable
flow of essential inputs free from exploitation or monopolistic behavior.
The Ministry affirmed that these intensive inspection
campaigns will continue on a regular and unannounced basis, covering all stages
of trade. It urged breeders and consumers to promptly report any unjustified
increases in feed prices, underscoring the collective efforts of all concerned
entities to protect Egypt’s livestock and poultry sector, stabilize the market,
and ensure the availability of quality feed at fair prices, contributing to the
country's overall food security.