Over four intensive days, experts from the Italian Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA), in collaboration with Egypt’s Agricultural Research Center (ARC), delivered the first Training of Trainers (TOT) on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) under the framework of the EU-KAFI Programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) Cairo.
The training brought together 47 agricultural extensionists, representing the first batch out of 200 trainers, who will participate in training 9,000 Egyptian farmers across Dakahlia, Monufia, Beheira, Gharbia, and Sharqia governorates.
Through seven key modules covering wheat agronomy, fertilization, water management, integrated weed and pest management, disease control, and agricultural mechanization, participants engaged in both theoretical and practical learning methods.
The sessions also witnessed strong participation from women extensionists, whose active engagement and contributions enriched the discussions with their practical experiences. Their involvement underscored the essential role women play in strengthening Egypt’s agricultural extension system and supporting communities in adopting improved agricultural practices. Overall, the high level of interaction and collaboration demonstrated by all extensionists reflected a growing commitment to delivering more responsive, inclusive, and community-centered agricultural advisory services.
This initiative strengthens Egypt’s agricultural extension system, empowering small and medium-scale farmers to adopt sustainable, climate-smart agricultural practices that enhance wheat productivity and ensure the long-term sustainability of the agricultural sector.
The event saw the participation of Prof. Dr. Ahmed Ozzam, Head of the Services and Follow-up Sector at the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation; Prof. Dr. Mohamed El-Khouly, Director of the Soils, Water and Environment Research Institute; Prof. Dr. Mohamed Shetta, Head of the Central Administration of Agricultural Directorates at the Ministry of Agriculture; Prof. Dr. Megahed Ammar, Director of the Field Crops Research Institute; and Prof. Dr. Maher El-Maghraby, Deputy Director of the Agricultural Research Center. The programme also featured the active involvement of Rita Petrilli, EU-KAFI Programme Manager, and Dr. Riccardo Passero, Technical Coordinator of the Programme from the Italian Council for Agricultural Research and Economics (CREA).
