President Sisi briefed on food security, strategic reserves

CAIRO – 11 April 2026: President Abdel Fattah El Sisi was briefed on food security, strategic reserves, and agricultural plans nationwide, on Saturday, amid the ongoing global challenges of regional tensions.

Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met on Saturday with Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Sherif Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Alaa El-Din Farouk, and Colonel Dr. Bahaa El-Ghannam, Executive Director of the Future of Egypt for Sustainable Development Authority.

Presidential Spokesperson Mohamed El-Shenawy stated that the meeting reviewed the country’s food security system, including the production and distribution of strategic commodities to ensure sufficient reserves for extended periods. These efforts aim to maintain market stability and control prices, particularly amid regional developments affecting global supply and financing chains.

In this context, the Minister of Supply confirmed that stocks of essential commodities—including wheat, rice, sugar, oil, pasta, and meat—are at reassuring levels. This, he noted, helps mitigate the impact of the current global challenges and ensures the continued availability of basic goods.

The meeting also discussed developments related to the subsidized bread system, the status of bakeries nationwide, updates to the ration card system, and oversight of the National Food Safety Authority, which is responsible for ensuring the quality and safety of food products in the market.

The Minister of Agriculture reviewed preparations for the new wheat procurement season, noting that the government aims to collect approximately five million tons of locally produced wheat during the current harvest. This is expected to help reduce import dependence and strengthen strategic reserves. The procurement season will run from April 15 to August 15, with the purchase price set at 2,500 Egyptian pounds per ardeb and immediate payment to farmers to support market stability.

The meeting further addressed developments in Egypt’s poultry sector and ongoing efforts to curb rising food prices. In this regard, Bahaa El-Ghannam reviewed mechanisms to develop the commodities exchange and enhance its regulatory role in commodity trading. These measures aim to ensure price transparency, limit monopolistic practices, support small producers and farmers, and promote fair and organized marketing channels.

Discussions also covered steps to improve the governance of subsidized agricultural fertilizer distribution, reduce reliance on nitrogen fertilizers, and encourage the adoption of modern technologies in production and distribution systems. These measures are intended to enhance efficiency, ensure fair distribution, and prevent market manipulation.

The spokesperson added that the President stressed the importance of adopting a unified vision to maximize the use of available resources, improve service quality, enhance market efficiency, and balance production with consumption. He also directed the government to strengthen price control mechanisms to prevent unjustified increases and speculation.

Additionally, President Sisi emphasized the need to expand partnerships with the private sector and attract foreign investment in retail trade and commercial chains, while boosting agricultural productivity, improving crop quality, and maintaining strategic reserves. He underscored the importance of continuing efforts to achieve self-sufficiency in agricultural, livestock, fish, and poultry production.