Egypt expresses interest in water-saving rice farming

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BANGKOK, 3 July 2015 – The Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives has revealed that Egypt expressed interest in the country’s water-saving rice cultivation and is eyeing opportunities to foster agricultural cooperation in the near future.

Speaking after a talk with the Egyptian ambassador to Thailand, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Pitipong Puengboon na Ayutthaya disclosed that both governments decided to expand bilateral cooperation, especially in the area of agriculture.

The minister said the Egyptian government was particularly interested in Thailand’s water-saving rice farming technology, which was proven to reduce water by 30 percent without affecting output or quality. However, a large number of Thai farmers are still uncertain about the technique’s efficacy.

Egypt also expressed interest in artificial reef management technology and was planning to offer a research grant to Thailand. Both sides will discuss the plan in detail later on.

Egypt is the first Arab nation to have formed diplomatic relations with Thailand. The two nations formally established ties in 1954.