High-Level Visit to Solar Irrigation and Small-Scale Post-harvest Sites in Qena

Under the Reversing Egypt’s Diminishing Food Security project, funded by the Government of Japan and led by the Ministry of Water Research and Irrigation (MWRI), ICARDA will host a high-level field visit in Qena Governorate. The visit will engage ICARDA–MWRI Water Users’ Association at the mesqa (tertiary canal) and mark progress on installing a solar-powered irrigation system and handing over small-scale post-harvest processing unit.
The event will be attended by H.E. Mr. Fumio Iwai, Ambassador of Japan to Egypt, and Mr.  Aly Abousabaa, Director General of ICARDA, alongside representatives from Egypt’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and project implementation partners.

Participants will visit the solar irrigation system site, followed by a visit to a nearby village where post-harvest processing unit have been installed. These interventions aim to improve agricultural productivity and expand economic opportunities, particularly for women engaged in agricultural value chains.

This visit highlights the close collaboration between Japan, Egypt, ICARDA, and national partners. It shows how joint efforts translate science into impact, supporting stronger rural livelihoods and food security across Egypt and beyond.