Egypt seeks to produce cotton that resists drought better
Ahead of the COP27, Egypt and Uzbekistan hope to cooperate in producing cotton varieties resistant to unfavorable climate conditions.
CAIRO — Egypt and Uzbekistan may cooperate in developing varieties of cotton that can better tolerate drought and salinity.
In an Oct. 6 meeting in Cairo, Egypt’s Minister of Agriculture, El-Seyed el-Quseir, discussed future possibilities with the Uzbek Minister of Innovative Development and Chairman of the Cotton Council, Ibrahim Abdurahmanov. The meeting comes as Egypt prepares to host the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2022 (COP27) in Sharm el-Sheikh in November.
According to a statement published by the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture, Quseir said that Egypt has abundant production of long-staple cotton varieties, for which global demand is increasing.
Sky News Arabia reported in September 2021 that Egypt set a record in cotton exports in 2021, by selling 1.8 million kantars of cotton (178 million pounds) to 28 countries at a value of 4 billion Egyptian pounds (about $206 million), which revived hopes that the country would regain its cotton production glory.
