By: Gazette Staff CAIRO, April 25, 2018 - Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation Abdel Moneim el-Banna on Wednesday stressed the importance of intensifying co-operation and boosting joint Arab action over agriculture, to help improve the level of food security for the peoples of the region and to achieve comprehensive agricultural development. The minister was speaking at a meeting of the 48th executive council of Arab agriculture ministers, currently being held in Jordan. The e being attended by the agriculture ministers of the member states and representatives of the international and regional institutions concerned with the agriculture and food sectors. The minister pointed out that Egypt's leadership was keen on supporting all forms of inter-Arab co-operation in the interests of the Arab peoples and he highlighted the important role that the Arab Organisation for Agricultural Development was undertaking to support this co-operation. Minister el-Banna said it was necessary to support programmes which helped increase agricultural productivity as well as rural development projects and initiatives to boost the capabilities of rural women and breadwinners. Minister el-Banna took part in an inaugural session of Jordan's first international agricultural forum which is being chaired by Prince Hassan bin Talal. In a press statement on the sidelines of the forum, Minister el-Banna confirmed the importance of these forums which are a great help in promoting the agricultural sector. The minister said that the forums contributed to the exchange of expertise in agricultural production, the transfer of modern technology and the sharing of knowledge through agricultural research papers. "The forums are a good opportunity to present the investment opportunities available in some countries, to attract investment to the agricultural sector and to increase the trade in agricultural goods," the minister added.
