Today, the EU-KAFI Programme hosted a landmark event at the Hiring Service Station of the Agriculture Research Center in Damanhur, marking the official Wheat Harvest Mechanisation Event and the formal handover of modern agricultural machinery to the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation. The handover puts mechanised equipment directly in the hands of 31,000 small and medium-scale farmers, reducing post-harvest losses and strengthening Egypt’s wheat supply chain.
The event began with keynote speeches from H.E. Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, H.E. Angelina Eichhorst, EU Ambassador to Egypt and the League of Arab States; and Dr. Luna Angelini Marinucci , First Secretary, Embassy of Italy to Egypt, Dr. Tiberio Chiari, Head of AICS, Cairo, and Mrs. Rita Petrilli, EU-KAFI programme manager, followed by the official ribbon-cutting of the new agricultural machines.
“Today the European Union stands with Egypt, demonstrating its long-term commitment to support the strengthening of domestic wheat production and reducing vulnerability to global shocks,” Angelina Eichhorst, the European Union Ambassador to Egypt, said. “By investing in mechanisation, innovation, and farmers, the EU and Egypt work together on a more productive, sustainable, and resilient future for Egyptian agriculture.”
The event, held under the theme “Wheat Harvest Mechanisation Event,” brought together high-level representatives from the European Union, the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), Egypt’s Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, and small and medium-sized farmers whose daily work underpins Egypt’s food security.
“Italy and Egypt share a deep commitment to food security, and today’s handover is a testament to what partnership can achieve. Through EU-KAFI, we are not just delivering machinery, we are investing in the people who feed this nation.” Dr. Tiberio Chiari, Director of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation in Cairo, said “When small and medium-scale farmers have access to modern tools and the knowledge to use them, the entire food system becomes stronger, more resilient, and more sustainable for generations to come.”
The event witnessed live field demonstrations of modern agricultural machinery, a side-by-side illustration of how knowledge and equipment together drive food productivity. An exhibition area gave farmers space to share their stories and their wheat production, turning the event into a genuine celebration of their resilience and hard work.
Access to modern agricultural machinery is a necessity for food productivity. Without mechanisation, small and medium farmers face higher labor costs, post-harvest losses, and inconsistent yields that threaten both their income and national food supply. Today’s formal handover of agricultural machinery to the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation directly ensures that machinery reaches farmers, making modern technology accessible at scale.
The service model behind the machinery is equally important. Through the Hiring Service Station, farmers can access mechanised support at a 10% discounted price, removing one of the most persistent barriers facing smallholders. This service structure means that modern mechanisation is not reserved for large landowners; it belongs to every farmer in the Delta.
Egypt’s food security depends on the productivity of its small and medium-scale farmers. These farmers are the backbone of the national wheat supply, yet for years, limited access to modern machinery and technical know-how kept yields below their true potential. Today’s event represents a concrete step toward closing that gap, placing modern tools and proven practices directly in the hands of those who feed the nation.
The EU-KAFI Programme is funded by the European Union and implemented by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) in Cairo, with a mission to strengthen Egypt’s food security by increasing sustainable, climate-resilient grain production and reducing post-harvest losses, with small and medium farmers at the heart of every intervention.
Through the EU-KAFI Programme, funded by the European Union and implemented by AICS Cairo, 31,000 small and medium-scale farmers will be supported through mechanisation; 400,000 farmers will be trained on Good Agricultural Practices; 4 new seed processing plants will be developed; 5 new silos will be built with a 50,000-ton storage capacity; 133 storage sites will be equipped with real-time tracking systems; 600,000 feddans will be covered by the farmer training programme; and 1 national seed certification laboratory network will be established.
