The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Food Security and Agribusiness Support (FAS) programme, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture and land Reclamation, Global Cold Chain Exhibition Alliance (GCCA) and the World Food Logistics Organisation (WFLO) organised the first cold chain exhibition in Egypt, the US embassy said on Monday. Participants of the Cold Chain Exhibition attended educational sessions and talked about cold chain processes, innovations in transportation technology, efficient storage and fire suppression. FAS is a $23m programme that aims to increase agriculture-related incomes of smallholder farmers in Upper Egypt through implementing a market-driven approach that facilitates sustainable, pro-poor value chain development and helps smallholders increase access to domestic and export markets. The programme has been in effect since July 2015 in Assiut, Aswan, Beni Suef, Luxor, Minya, Qena, and Sohag governorates and will end in June 2020. The market-driven approach is supported by four interrelated component which are improving on-farm production, more efficient post-harvest processes, improving marketing of agriculture crops and products, and enhancing nutritional status, especially for women and children. USAID has provided more than $1.4bn to the agriculture sector in Egypt since 1978. Its legacy has enabled farmers to purchase land, improve farm management techniques, access financial services, and has liberalised agro-input markets for fertilisers and seeds. USAID helps Egypt increase its agricultural productivity and raise farmers' incomes to become more self-reliant. Through Feed the Future, the US government's global hunger and food security initiative, USAID's approach encourages free market competition and helps match farmers with local and international buyers to meet market needs and consumer demands. USAID has invested more than $30bn in Egypt over the years.
