Egypt has topped the list of countries exporting frozen strawberry according to recent reports issued by the International Trade Center, the Egyptian Cabinet said on Saturday. "Egypt ranks first in the world in frozen strawberry exports in terms of exported quantities that amounted to 140,000 tonnes, representing 20 percent of the global export quantities, at a value of $165 million, representing 14.3 percent of the world's total exports for 2019," the statement said. According to the statement, Egypt has achieved a growth rate amounting to 40 percent in value and 39 percent in quantities in its frozen strawberry exports during the period from 2015 to 2019. Minister of Agriculture El-Sayed El-Quseir stressed that his ministry has paid a lot of attention to the strawberry crop for its economic value and its significance as an export and manufacturing crop, the cabinet's statement said. To support the strawberry crop, the Egyptian Agricultural Bank has previously increased the amount of funding granted to strawberry farmers from 15,000 pounds to 60,000 pounds per acre, for lands dedicated to export-oriented production, El-Quseir said. The state also increased the credit category per acre to 90,000 pounds at a reduced interest subsidised by the state. Strawberry is mainly planted in Qalyubia, Beheira, Ismailia, and Sharqiya governorates, in addition to the El-Nubaria region. El-Quseir added that aside from frozen strawberries, Egypt exports around 20,000 tonnes of fresh strawberries at high prices, as Egyptian strawberries enjoy a good reputation in the global markets. In addition to that, around 4 million strawberry seedlings are exported annually, the minister added, noting that their export season begins in February of each year after the end of fresh strawberry export season in December.
