2023-08-25 08:43:18
Egypt imports tens of tons of coffee annually, at a time when its consumption has increased at a record rate in recent years, which made its prices affected by internal and external factors.
However, the lifeline for the stability of the coffee market in Egypt and its low prices may be related to the experience of an Egyptian engineer who succeeded in cultivating it in Ismailia Governorate.
In the Al-Dabiya center of Ismailia, engineer Ahmed Al-Hijjawi was able to successfully cultivate coffee, which opens the way for expanding its cultivation and saving millions of dollars that Egypt spends on importing the plant used in the coffee industry.
Al-Hijjawi’s experience included a number of tropical plants in addition to coffee, some of which are expensive and of high quality.
Al-Hijjawi explains to “Sky News Arabia” that he has a passion for agriculture that made him focus on leaving a mark in this field, and he was able to harvest the first crop of coffee this year.
Engineer Ahmed stresses that Egypt can completely dispense with importing coffee, pointing out that the types of coffee that are imported in Egypt are of low quality, and when it is cultivated in Egypt, the production will be better than all imported types, especially since its productivity is large and its earnings are very good.
Al-Hijjawi summarizes the reasons for the failure of previous attempts to grow coffee in Egypt, in:
Coffee trees grow in a tropical climate. Difficulty obtaining coffee seeds. Coffee needs acidic soil. Coffee trees need not to be exposed to direct sunlight. Farmers fear experiment.
Al-Hijjawi’s experience included a number of myrtle plants
He added that he was able to overcome these obstacles through the following steps:
He brought two types of coffee seeds, one of which is Indonesian and the second is Yemeni, and the latter is considered one of the finest types in the world. After providing a source of seeds, we started producing seedlings and distributing them to farmers to enlarge the cultivated areas. Ensure to provide a tropical climate in his farm. Cultivation of coffee under the shade of trees in such a way that it is not exposed to the sun directly, and it is also not exposed to permanent shade, but rather indirect sun, for example it is under the shade of trees so that the sun’s rays permeate through the trees. The acidic soil was provided by adding acids such as lemon salt or some fertilizers to it, making it suitable for coffee cultivation. The coffee tree produces between 5 to 8 kilograms twice a year, once in winter and once in summer.
Al-Hijjawi confirms that the matter is not limited to the cultivation of coffee only, but also to a number of tropical plants, pointing out that:
The land of Egypt is fertile, suitable for growing many types, not just coffee. We were able to grow Caviar Lemons (Lemon Fingers or Australian Fingers which are lemon sticks full of caviar-like pearls and rich in flavour), producing 5 fruity colors. Lemon sticks are sold at exorbitant prices, because they contain important nutrients and are used in the pharmaceutical industry. Lemon sticks are also used in foods served in luxury restaurants. We produce African watermelon, and we conduct experiments to grow vanilla in Egypt.
Al-Hijjawi concludes by emphasizing that his experience in coffee cultivation is unique in Egypt, pointing out that the matter needs to choose the appropriate place and land area, because until now, none of the farmers dared to grow coffee on large areas, according to this experience.
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