I. European Commission/ Egypt Co-operation
Status of Ongoing Projects funded under Protocols

The estimated potato production in Egypt is around 2 million tons per year, grown on some 200,000 feddan (84,000 ha). Exports to the EU various between 120,000 and 235,000 tons (2004/2005). Export values in monetary terms around 35% of the total agricultural exports of Egypt and is thus an important factor to the income of farmers in the country.

Export to the EU is connected to various EU regulations amongst which is the prohibited import of potatoes with the bacterial disease Ralstonia Solanacearum Smith, a disease harmless for human beings but utmost dangerous to the potato crop in Europe and thus having a great impact on the economy.

After an increased number of occurrences of this disease in Egypt during the early nineties, the EU imposed a ban on the import of Egyptian potatoes. Derogation from this ban was agreed under the condition that Egypt would set up a strict control system on this disease and introduce Pest Free Areas for the production of export potatoes to Europe. The agreement to derogate is that after 5 interceptions a ban on the export of potatoes to Europe is again imposed. The ban will be lifted for the next season, when Egypt gives explanations on the reasons for occurrence and issues measures for prevention of this disease.

The overall objective of the project is to assist the Egyptian government in its Brown Rot project by sharing European experience in diagnosis and biology of the pathogen, and by strengthening the measures for control of the disease, to further ensure that no infected tubers are included in potato export consignments. The specific objective is to assure that Egypt has the necessary know-how and facilities to efficiently combat brown rot.

In order to support the GoE in avoiding and combating the Potato brown Rot disease a Project management Unit has been set up, training in the country and abroad (PhD, MSc) is being conducted, study tours organized and an extension package developed to be disseminated top producers, packers and exporters.

Until 2005, most of the aims had been achieved. Despite a tremendous effort from the GoE still 11 confirmed interceptions were found during the growing season 2004/2005.

The project will end in October 2005. An extension until the end of the export season 2005/2006 (June 30th, 2006) has been requested by the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Resources (MoALR).