The Central Bank of Egypt published an update on a joint field visit with the Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation to villages in Aswan governorate participating in the “Transforming the Livelihoods of Smallholder Farmers” project, delivered with the banking sector and the UN World Food Programme (WFP). The project aims to integrate smallholder farmers into the formal financial system by pairing tailored financial products and services with technical and training support, including a focus on women’s economic empowerment and financial literacy. The release highlights on-the-ground activities such as solar-powered irrigation and solar-powered drip irrigation for sugarcane seedlings, farmer training and inputs, and women-focused training in upcycling and agri-processing. It reports that the first phase (January 2021 to June 2022) reached around 85,000 smallholder farmers, consolidated and developed about 8,500 feddans, and supported modern irrigation and solar installations, with reported impacts including a 34% increase in crop production, a 35% increase in revenues, and a 37.5% reduction in operational costs; it also cites capacity building for 50 social and civil organizations, a Train of Trainers programme for 2,250 candidates (31% women), financial literacy sessions for around 34,000 beneficiaries (47% women), and funding for approximately 15,000 women to establish livestock projects, generating net income of up to 55%. Participating banks provided services in the designated villages, including issuing Meeza prepaid cards and mobile wallets and directing customers to Business Development Services hubs under the Nilepreneurs initiative. The second phase started in January 2025 and runs until December 2026, with nearly EGP 120 million in total funding and coverage of 11 new villages. It includes continued cultivation of strategic crops, adds sugarcane, and introduces selected export-oriented cash crops such as cantaloupe; for 2025, the update cites around 23,500 beneficiaries, development and integration of 400 feddans, and installation of 21 solar power stations with total capacity of nearly 1,000 kilowatts.
Central Bank of Egypt 2026-01-11
Central Bank of Egypt reports progress on smallholder farmer financial inclusion project with EGP 120 million second phase through 2026
The Central Bank of Egypt, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the UN World Food Programme updated on the "Transforming the Livelihoods of Smallholder Farmers" project in Aswan. The initiative integrates farmers into the formal financial system with tailored products, support, and training, emphasizing women's empowerment and financial literacy. The second phase, from January 2025 to December 2026, involves EGP 120 million in funding, covering 11 new villages and introducing export-oriented cash crops.