The head of the General Authority for Land Reclamation in the Ministry of Agriculture, Abdilaziz Shita, told Youm7 that the ministry took more than 25,000 acres of land at Salam Lake for Sinai residents. The land will be distributed to young graduates and beneficiaries as a ratio to the Armed Forces' reserved lands. Shita said the land distribution in North Sinai will take a while, as there are 4,000 acres in al-Amal village in the east of Ismailia. He added that the priority for land distribution will be those with agricultural experience or who plan to hold developmental projects. There are also lands allocated for the sons of martyrs and disabled persons. The land will be sold to the young graduates for 22,000 EGP (U.S. $3,700), to be paid in installments over 22 years, said Shita. He also said the allocation system for all the categories will be activated after 3 years of hiring, to ensure the beneficiaries started their agricultural projects. Shita said the prices will be stated according to the Supreme Committee of State Lands and that 30 percent of the land will be allocated for Egyptian investors, but the selling price will be according to public auction prices. Land will not exceed 1,000 acres for companies and 100 acres for individuals. He also said that 10 percent of the lands will be allocated for young graduates and 10 percent for the Ministry of Agriculture for research stations in the agricultural sector.
