He received a report from Dr. Anwar Issa, head of the Central Administration for Directorate Affairs at the Ministry's Agricultural Services and Follow-up Sector, on the status of fertilizer availability and distribution. According to the report, a total of 18 million subsidized fertilizer sacks, or about 900,000 tons, have been supplied to agricultural cooperatives for summer crop farmers. This represents 80% of the season's requirements.
Farouk stressed the importance of continuing fertilizer
distribution to fully meet farmers' needs through the end of September. He also
called for simplifying procedures for eligible farmers, removing any obstacles,
and continuously monitoring fertilizer availability at cooperatives and outlets
to prevent shortages. The minister also highlighted the need to coordinate with
relevant authorities to ensure smooth transportation and distribution, prevent
price manipulation, and guarantee that the fertilizers reach their intended
recipients.
The Minister affirmed the ministry's commitment to a strict
disbursement and control system, including continuous field monitoring to
ensure fair distribution and prevent manipulation. The ministry is dedicated to
supporting Egyptian farmers and providing all necessary agricultural inputs to
increase productivity and achieve food security.
He explained that fertilizer shipping schedules are created
for agricultural cooperatives in governorates based on actual needs, with
precise timelines for the entire agricultural season. All agricultural
cooperatives must post signs detailing fertilizer quotas and disbursement dates
to ensure transparency. He pointed out that no subsidized fertilizers are disbursed
outside the "farmer card" system, which ensures they only reach
registered farmers and allows for precise tracking.
Farouk emphasized that no additional fees or commissions are imposed on the official price of a subsidized fertilizer sack. He added that the disbursement of fertilizers is not linked to the purchase of any other production inputs from agricultural cooperatives. The governance system tracks the fertilizers from the factories to the cooperatives and then to the eligible farmers, linking them to a census of cultivated areas.