A model fishery has been established in South Sinai at a total cost of LE1 million ($162, 000) as an example to be followed to those who want invest in the field of fish production, has said the Minister of Agriculture Salah Abdel-Mo'men. In addition, a machinery agricultural development centre will be set up at a total cost of 100 million Japanese yen, in collaboration with Japanese partners, the Minister stated. He stressed that some problems to fish wealth in Sinai have already been solved, as the region has a large number of lakes, which has led to increased fish production in Egypt. A ministerial group has already been formed to find solutions to problems encountered in developing Sinai, the minister remarked the minister of agriculture during a conference on the agricultural development in Sinai held at the National Research Centre (NRC) in Giza this week. The ministry of agriculture has provided cultivators in Sinai with 20,000 olive and other fruit tree saplings. He recommended that development in Sinai should be based on co-operation between the bodies concerned achieve the ideal method of investment in this area. The minister stated that agricultural development in Sinai is one of the main ways to attract a large population to this area. Scientific research and knowledge are the basics of Sinai reconstruction, says Dr Nadia Zakhari, Minister of State for Scientific Research. She mentioned that relevant research taking into consideration such factors as location, climate, population and developing new communities has already been conducted, as well as studies focussing on agricultural development in Sinai, animal breeding, fishing, industry, fish wealth and tourism. “Studies related to agricultural development focused on natural sources of water, such as rains, and the geological condition of the areas on which the rains have fallen, in addition to research into techniques to deal with floods, suggesting new methods to benefit from," Zakhari noted. Other studies focused on the problems associated with the rarity of water in certain areas and finding solutions to them, she added. The minister further commented that research also examined the role played by climatic factors, such as winds, humidity and evaporation, and their effects on agricultural development in Sinai.
For his part Sameh Eissa, representative of the North Sinai governor highlighted the development conditions in Sinai, noting that 80,000 feddans have been cultivated at Rafah and Sheikh Zayed areas that depend on rains. There is also fruit cultivation that relies on well water. He stressed the importance of maintaining security in Sinai so as to create the stability that contributes to attracting further investments to accomplish the development. Ashraf Shaalan, NRC chairman, stressed that the centre is keen to carry out research concerning Sinai's development. He added that ten per cent of the total funds allocated for research has been channelled into projects serving Sinai development. The conference was attended by representatives from North and South Sinai and a large number of researchers at the NRC and Suez Canal University.
