Prime Minister Inspects Maghrabi Agriculture in Beheira
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly visited the facilities of Maghrabi Agriculture Company (MAFA) in Beheira, accompanied by Minister of Local Development Manal Awad, Minister of Agriculture Alaa Farouk, and Beheira Governor Jacqueline Azar. The visit reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting agricultural projects as part of Egypt’s 2030 Sustainable Development Strategy.
Tour of MAFA Facilities
During the tour, the Prime Minister examined key components of the company’s operations, including the Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) plants, cold storage units, quality control laboratories, pest management labs, and several farming stations. MAFA, a leading exporter of agricultural products, serves 70 international markets across regions such as the European Union, East Asia, and the Americas by exporting roughly 153,000 tonnes of products annually, including citrus, grapes, strawberries, lettuce, and dates.
Expanding Production and Innovation
Sherif El Maghrabi, Chairperson of MAFA, explained that the existing IQF facility currently produces 65 tonnes per day and employs over 150 workers. With a second facility under construction, daily production is expected to increase by 80 tonnes, creating more than 200 additional jobs. The cold storage complex, now in its initial operational phase, features rapid cooling rooms and space for 4,000 pallets.
One of the tour’s highlights was the biological pest control laboratory. A team from Cairo University showcased their work in breeding beneficial insects that help manage harmful pests. Among the innovations is a mobile application designed to detect red palm weevil infestations in real time, enabling precise interventions and preserving crop quality. These local developments are expected to significantly reduce the previous annual cost of imported biological control technologies.
Observing the Full Value Chain
The Prime Minister also visited the grape packaging station to see the complete value chain in action. El Maghrabi described the company’s advanced use of desalination technology for irrigation and its expansion efforts, which now span 9,126 feddans across regions including Nubariya, El Bustan, Tamboul, and Minya. The production portfolio covers a wide array of crops such as citrus fruits, grapes, lettuce, dates, vegetables, herbs, and nursery plants.
MAFA employs 1,600 permanent staff—including engineers, accountants, and export specialists—and around 6,000 seasonal workers, with 7% of the workforce comprising people with disabilities. Significant investments in research and development have led to the adoption of soil moisture sensors, precision spraying technologies to reduce pesticide usage, and the introduction of new citrus varieties through international collaborations. The company’s diverse strategies target both local markets and exports.
Government Support for Agricultural Reform
Prime Minister Madbouly praised MAFA’s achievements, emphasizing that agriculture remains a cornerstone of Egypt’s structural reform program and a vital driver of export growth. He reaffirmed the state’s support for expanding cultivated land and embracing advanced technologies aimed at boosting agricultural productivity and economic returns.
Broader Initiatives in Beheira
After the MAFA tour, the Prime Minister inspected a mobile service convoy in Zawyet Saqr village, located in the Abu El Matamir Centre, as part of the “Decent Life” initiative. Governor Jacqueline Azar provided an overview of Beheira Governorate, highlighting its 15 centres and 17 cities that serve a population of 7 million people. The governor detailed that Beheira leads the nation in fruit and vegetable production and citrus exports, with agriculture being the primary income source for Abu El Matamir’s 830,000 residents.
The “Decent Life” initiative spans six centres, featuring nearly 3,916 development projects across 42 villages and 236 hamlets. A large majority of these projects have been completed and are operational, with Abu El Matamir alone reporting over 500 finished projects and most already in service. In Zawyet Saqr, almost all planned projects have been successfully implemented, including family development services, canal lining, road improvements, facilities for emergency services, an agricultural complex, a youth centre, and a comprehensive community service hub.
Community-Focused Services
The Prime Minister’s itinerary also included a visit to a one-day food market offering affordable goods, organized by local commerce authorities in cooperation with the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade. He concluded his tour by reviewing mobile medical units that deliver essential services directly to local communities.
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