Feed the Future Egypt Rural Agribusiness Strengthening

The Feed the Future Egypt Rural Agribusiness Strengthening activity will facilitate Egypt's adoption of international food quality and safety standards for horticulture crops destined for both international and domestic markets, including food processors, supermarkets, and restaurant chains.

Using a market-driven systems-strengthening approach, it will improve the competitiveness of horticulture producers and related down-stream businesses and food processors by building their capacities to respond to demand from domestic and international buyers and fully meet market requirements.

Key components include: 1) strengthening sustainable domestic and international market linkages; 2) improving post-harvest handling and storage; 3) increasing productivity of small farmers and food processors; and, 4) improving nutritional status of women and children.

In five years, the activity is anticipated to double the incomes of 25,000 small farmers; create 12,000 sustainable full time equivalent jobs in agri-businesses both on- and off-farm; and, improve agricultural water-use efficacy and efficiency for over 22,000 hectares.

The activity will assist small farmers by helping to build the capacity of producer organizations and private sector extension services that will in turn, provide technical assistance to small farmers.

Increased food productivity and sales will be achieved by applying international food safety and sanitation standards and best practices throughout the value chain.

The activity will improve the nutritional status of women and children in the targeted areas by using nutrition-sensitive intervention and implement nutrition-sensitive activities along agriculture-nutrition pathways.