Matrouh, Egypt - With 1,483 direct beneficiaries and tens of thousands of indirect beneficiaries, FAO today concluded the project on "Water harvesting and Good Agricultural Practices for improved livelihood and increased sustained production in Matrouh rain-fed agricultural areas".

The project was implemented by FAO in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, the Arab Centre for Dry and Arid Land Studies (ACSAD), the Animal Production Research Institute and the Desert Research Centre, with funding from the European Union's Joint Rural Development Programme and in coordination with the Italian Agency for Cooperation for Development.

Participants of the closing workshop, which was held under the auspices of Mr. General A. H/ Khaled Shoaib, Governor of Matrouh, included representatives of the European Union's Joint Rural Development Programme, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation the implementers, along with representatives of the Agricultural Directorate, agricultural cooperative associations, agricultural extension centers in the province, small farmers and media.

The most notable results of the project were: 

• Constructed 307 wells with a capacity of 100 m3 with a total of 30,000 cubic meters harvesting rainwater;
• Maintained and rehabilitated 18 ancient Roman wells with a total of 9,007 cubic metres of rainwater;
• Rehabilitated and provided technical support for 100 old fig and olive plantations;
• Provided farmers tools and inputs to facilitate agricultural production and GAP implementation;
• Equipped 27 modern olive farms with drip irrigation networks, wells, pumps and improved seedlings;
• Distributed seeds to 520 farmers to grow 1,054 acres of improved barley and wheat seeds;
• Distributed 80 Damascus goats to mix with the Barqui goats to improve specifications and increase productivity of the breed;
• Provided veterinary services to 25,000 animals belonging to 154 beneficiaries;
• Distributed 500 goats and fodder to 100 women who are supported;
• Distributed 1,000 white chicken and feed given to 50 women who are bread winners;
• Constructed and equipped 70 home gardens;
• Provided 45 women with dairy and cheese manufacturing units, after having provided the necessary training;
• Planted 6,000 grazing seedlings adapted to the conditions of the area to improve the condition of pasture. 

In his closing address, Mr. Nasredin Hag Elamin, FAO's representative in Egypt, said: “These efforts and achievements should not stop with the closing of this project, but there is a need to continue in order to improve living conditions and increase production and sustainability so as to benefit the people of Matrouh, which is consistent with FAO's objectives to eradicate hunger and improve food security and the standard of living."

The objectives of the project were to increase the sustainability and productivity of rain-fed agriculture in rural areas and improve the living conditions of the local population, by expanding water harvesting and good crop-related agricultural practices in Matrouh’s rain areas.

"The project managed to attain many achievements in a short period of time in cooperation with implementing partners, despite the obstacles and challenges it faced in the implementation stages, and we are pleased to thank FAO, the European Union and the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development and all those who contributed to the goals of this project." Eng. Hussein Al-Sininy, Director General of Village Development in Matrouh presented the address on behalf of Maj. Gen. A.H. Khaled Shoaib, Governor of Matrouh, who said.

The project is considered one of the milestones in the development process of Matrouh due to its success in supporting community members of Al-Najila, Sidi Barrani, Ras al-Hikma and Matrouh, the project’s targeted areas.

"The EU and all partners are satisfied with the project's achievements, and there are still five ongoing programmes in the areas of water, good agricultural practices and livestock production that fall in the interest of the governorate’s population." said Mario Margotta, head of the EU's joint rural development programme task force.

The EU-JRDP is a rural development intervention under the umbrella of the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD), an initiative launched by the European Union to translate its commitment to inclusiveness of growth and stability to include its neighbours, and is implementing the EU-JRDP programme of the Italian Agency for Cooperation for Development (AICS). The cost of the programme is estimated at €21.89 million, which is fully funded by the European Union. The duration of the programme is five years (2015-2019).