Luxor, Egypt – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in collaboration with Egyptian grantee Blue Moon, LTD and local producer associations, has inaugurated the first packhouse for smallholder farmers in Luxor Governorate. This facility aims to provide modern processing and storage solutions to help farmers meet current market demands.
“At USAID, we believe that developing the agricultural sector is essential to improving the country’s economy,” stated Sherry F. Carlin, USAID Mission Director to Egypt. She added that efforts by the Agriculture Associations enable premium produce from Upper Egypt to compete globally.
The U.S. Government-funded project assists Egyptian smallholder farmers in complying with Global Good Agricultural Practices and FairTrade standards. Through a partnership involving USAID, Blue Moon LTD, and local Producer Associations, an existing produce collection center in Esna was upgraded into a cold storage unit for packing fruits and vegetables intended for export. These improvements aim to help farmers meet international standards and enhance their ability to supply produce both locally and internationally.
This initiative forms part of a broader package of technical assistance from the American people aimed at promoting job creation, economic recovery, private sector growth, and strengthening trade and investment environments in Egypt. Over the past two years, USAID activities have resulted in new or improved full-time employment opportunities for over 40,000 individuals and short-term jobs for an additional 20,000 laborers across Egypt. These projects are part of nearly $30 billion invested by Americans through USAID in Egypt since 1975.