Inauguration of one of Egypt's first solar-powered fruit and vegetable dryers with the support of the Embassy of Japan and the Sawiris Foundation
2024/3/7
The modern solar-powered fruit and vegetable dryer started operation on March 7th 2024, in Esna Center - Luxor Governorate, as part of the "Project for Increasing Agricultural Value-added for Small-scale Farmers in Esna, Luxor Governorate", which is an agricultural and economic empowerment project implemented by the Center of Egyptian Family Development (CEFD).
The project was funded through a grant from the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development and the Embassy of Japan through its Grant Assistance for Grassroot Human Security Projects, the “KUSANONE” Program. The project was inaugurated by H. E. Mr. Oka Hiroshi, Ambassador of Japan to Egypt and Ms. Mays Abu Hegab, Programs Director at the Sawiris Foundation.
The project established a solar-powered tomato and vegetable dryer unit aiming to improve the annual income of 300 tomato farmers and their families, including 90 women, as well as reduce the waste of tomato crops by 15%. This is in addition to providing 1,500 farmers with hygienic drying skills, awareness on planting, harvesting, as well as post-harvest operations.
During the inauguration, Ambassador Oka expressed his respect for the Center of Egyptian Family Development Foundation, his gratitude to Sawiris Foundation for Social Development for their cooperation in the project, and his joy that the project will not only increase the income of small farmers in Esna, but also raise the profile of Esna as a traditionally major tomato production area. He also highlighted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of “KUSANONE” in Egypt and expressed his willingness to continue to work with various non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which play a pivotal role in Egypt in providing assistance to as many local residents as possible through the implementation of “KUSANONE”.
Ms. Mays Abou Hegab, Programs Director at Sawiris Foundation, added: “Today we inaugurate one of the first solar-powered vegetable dryers in Egypt as part of a key project that aligns with Sawiris Foundation's strategy to reduce multi-dimensional poverty. This project takes us a step forward towards achieving one of our aims; to increase the income of 20,000 families through Economic Empowerment by 2028. Since Esna is a major producer in the field of drying tomatoes in Egypt, we collaborate to increase and sustain Agricultural Value-added by utilizing clean energy, reducing food waste, and securing more jobs. At Sawiris Foundation, we are glad to be a part of the 'Golden Triangle' collaboration behind this project between government, civil society, and the private sector. Thanks to all partners at the Japanese Embassy, Luxor Governorate, Social Solidarity Directorate in Luxor, and the Center of Egyptian Family Development. Together, we work towards a better and sustainable future in Luxor and Egypt.”
In her speech, Dr. Suhair Al-Masry, Executive Director of the center for gyptian Family Developmentconfirmed that the project
aimsto empower small farmers by qualifying them technically and opening new markets to market their products
Through an effective partnership with the Japanese Embassy in Egypt and the Sawiris Foundation for Development.
The dryer project was established on an area of 12,600 square meters. It runs on solar energy and relies on solar energy for drying operations.
Technical support was provided to 112 rural women, and decent job opportunities were created for 20 women and young men, and they were trained to perform their work tasks.
It is worth mentioning that this is the first phase of the project, and the second phase has been planned, which depends on increasing the dryer production capacity by building 4 new dryers, as well as providing refrigerators and coolers for storage.
The “KUSANONE” Program provides direct and small-scale financial support to non-profit organizations including NGOs in the local communities. Japan has extended more than USD 10 million in Egypt since 1994, supporting 178 projects throughout Egypt in cooperation with 129 NGOs in a wide range of sectors including education, health, water and sanitation, vocational training, women empowerment, and special need support.
The Embassy of Japan welcomes applications from NGOs for new projects. For more details, please check the following Embassy website.
https://www.eg.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_en/11_000001_00437.html
The Sawiris Foundation for Social Development (SFSD) is one of the first donor foundations in Egypt. Established in 2001 by the Sawiris family, SFSD philanthropically promotes and supports innovative solutions that target comprehensive and sustainable development in Egypt. Over the last 23 years, SFSD has addressed varying pressing issues facing marginalized Egyptians, such as poverty, unemployment, social exclusion, and limited access to quality education by funding the delivery of programs aimed at achieving comprehensive and sustainable development in partnership with the governmental and private sectors as well as civil society. By creating thousands of job opportunities, providing quality education, and accessibility to basic services, SFSD has impacted the lives of nearly one million Egyptians in 24 Egyptian governorates, focusing on the most remote villages, with total investments of close to 2.5 billion EGP.
The Center of Egyptian Family Development Foundation is a non-profit civil institution operating within the scope of the Arab Republic of Egypt and has strong relations with the community and has several offices spread through which it works to perform its mission and implement its projects. The Foundation implements its projects and services in Luxor Governorate in many areas, including economic development and support for education, health, and agriculture through three offices within the governorate. The Foundation has implemented various agricultural projects in cooperation with many international organizations, including the project «Change the state of your village» in Nagaa Al-Fawal in the village of Al-Deir in the center of Esna - Luxor Governorate.
The project was funded through a grant from the Sawiris Foundation for Social Development and the Embassy of Japan through its Grant Assistance for Grassroot Human Security Projects, the “KUSANONE” Program. The project was inaugurated by H. E. Mr. Oka Hiroshi, Ambassador of Japan to Egypt and Ms. Mays Abu Hegab, Programs Director at the Sawiris Foundation.
The project established a solar-powered tomato and vegetable dryer unit aiming to improve the annual income of 300 tomato farmers and their families, including 90 women, as well as reduce the waste of tomato crops by 15%. This is in addition to providing 1,500 farmers with hygienic drying skills, awareness on planting, harvesting, as well as post-harvest operations.
During the inauguration, Ambassador Oka expressed his respect for the Center of Egyptian Family Development Foundation, his gratitude to Sawiris Foundation for Social Development for their cooperation in the project, and his joy that the project will not only increase the income of small farmers in Esna, but also raise the profile of Esna as a traditionally major tomato production area. He also highlighted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of “KUSANONE” in Egypt and expressed his willingness to continue to work with various non-governmental organizations (NGOs), which play a pivotal role in Egypt in providing assistance to as many local residents as possible through the implementation of “KUSANONE”.
Ms. Mays Abou Hegab, Programs Director at Sawiris Foundation, added: “Today we inaugurate one of the first solar-powered vegetable dryers in Egypt as part of a key project that aligns with Sawiris Foundation's strategy to reduce multi-dimensional poverty. This project takes us a step forward towards achieving one of our aims; to increase the income of 20,000 families through Economic Empowerment by 2028. Since Esna is a major producer in the field of drying tomatoes in Egypt, we collaborate to increase and sustain Agricultural Value-added by utilizing clean energy, reducing food waste, and securing more jobs. At Sawiris Foundation, we are glad to be a part of the 'Golden Triangle' collaboration behind this project between government, civil society, and the private sector. Thanks to all partners at the Japanese Embassy, Luxor Governorate, Social Solidarity Directorate in Luxor, and the Center of Egyptian Family Development. Together, we work towards a better and sustainable future in Luxor and Egypt.”
In her speech, Dr. Suhair Al-Masry, Executive Director of the center for gyptian Family Developmentconfirmed that the project
aimsto empower small farmers by qualifying them technically and opening new markets to market their products
Through an effective partnership with the Japanese Embassy in Egypt and the Sawiris Foundation for Development.
The dryer project was established on an area of 12,600 square meters. It runs on solar energy and relies on solar energy for drying operations.
Technical support was provided to 112 rural women, and decent job opportunities were created for 20 women and young men, and they were trained to perform their work tasks.
It is worth mentioning that this is the first phase of the project, and the second phase has been planned, which depends on increasing the dryer production capacity by building 4 new dryers, as well as providing refrigerators and coolers for storage.
The “KUSANONE” Program provides direct and small-scale financial support to non-profit organizations including NGOs in the local communities. Japan has extended more than USD 10 million in Egypt since 1994, supporting 178 projects throughout Egypt in cooperation with 129 NGOs in a wide range of sectors including education, health, water and sanitation, vocational training, women empowerment, and special need support.
The Embassy of Japan welcomes applications from NGOs for new projects. For more details, please check the following Embassy website.
https://www.eg.emb-japan.go.jp/itprtop_en/11_000001_00437.html
The Sawiris Foundation for Social Development (SFSD) is one of the first donor foundations in Egypt. Established in 2001 by the Sawiris family, SFSD philanthropically promotes and supports innovative solutions that target comprehensive and sustainable development in Egypt. Over the last 23 years, SFSD has addressed varying pressing issues facing marginalized Egyptians, such as poverty, unemployment, social exclusion, and limited access to quality education by funding the delivery of programs aimed at achieving comprehensive and sustainable development in partnership with the governmental and private sectors as well as civil society. By creating thousands of job opportunities, providing quality education, and accessibility to basic services, SFSD has impacted the lives of nearly one million Egyptians in 24 Egyptian governorates, focusing on the most remote villages, with total investments of close to 2.5 billion EGP.
The Center of Egyptian Family Development Foundation is a non-profit civil institution operating within the scope of the Arab Republic of Egypt and has strong relations with the community and has several offices spread through which it works to perform its mission and implement its projects. The Foundation implements its projects and services in Luxor Governorate in many areas, including economic development and support for education, health, and agriculture through three offices within the governorate. The Foundation has implemented various agricultural projects in cooperation with many international organizations, including the project «Change the state of your village» in Nagaa Al-Fawal in the village of Al-Deir in the center of Esna - Luxor Governorate.