Egypt has exported its first shipment of locally produced, high-technology “mini tuber” potato seeds to Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation announced on Wednesday , following recent efforts to open the Uzbek market.
The head of the Central Administration of Agricultural Quarantine, Mohamed El-Mensy, said the shipment was part of a directive from Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk to enhance Egypt’s seed production capabilities and establish the country as a seed exporter.
El-Mensy added that a plant health unit had been assigned to prepare the technical file for the exported seeds. He noted that a video conference was held between Egyptian and Uzbek officials, attended by the Uzbek ambassador in Cairo, and was followed by round-the-clock communication to finalise the file in time for Uzbekistan’s planting season.
He said that procedures were currently underway to export the remaining shipments.
The move follows a visit to Egypt in late May by a high-level Uzbek delegation to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation in the agricultural sector. At the time, Minister Farouk had instructed various departments to facilitate cooperation, including organising intensive field visits for the delegation to agricultural projects, research centres, and farms to share expertise.
