Feature: China-Egypt poultry project empowers rural Egyptian women with increased income

"I can't believe how much money I made in just 45 days," said Mahasen Mohamed, a mother of three, at a recent forum hosted in Cairo to discuss rural development in Egypt by drawing on Chinese experience.

In 45 days, Mohamed, a beneficiary of the China-Egypt "New Hope" breeding technology project in Egypt's Menoufia Governorate, transformed his family's financial outlook, earning a substantial income of up to 10,000 Egyptian pounds (around 210 U.S. dollars), which covered nearly two months of household expenses.

The project, a new collaborative effort designed to empower rural women by transferring advanced agricultural expertise, was launched through a partnership between the Chinese Embassy in Egypt, the Egyptian National Alliance for Civil Development Work, and the Chinese agricultural giant, New Hope Liuhe Co., Ltd.

The project removed the main obstacle -- the lack of startup capital -- faced by rural families, providing each participating woman with a comprehensive starter kit, which included 50 chicks, along with essential high-quality feed and medicines.

Currently operating in two villages in Menoufia, Saqiet Abu Shaara and Sabak al-Ahad, the initiative has engaged 100 beneficiaries, with 50 women from each village receiving extensive training. The goal was ambitious yet practical, which is to turn household poultry farming -- often a casual, traditional activity -- into a modern, scientifically managed, and profitable enterprise.

The results of the first phase, from mid-August to early October, have been overwhelmingly positive, validating the project's effectiveness. According to the Chinese Embassy in Egypt, the economic benefit from the initiative reached nearly 10,000 Egyptian pounds per household, a substantial amount for the rural families.

"The veterinarian communicates with us every week, guiding us step by step from day one. I am a very good breeder now. I achieved very good weights and sold the poultry at a good price. We are very happy that the company provided us with this decent life," said Mohamed.

Israa El-Sayed, a 26-year-old mother of four from Sabak al-Ahad village, shares the same sentiment. Before joining the project in August, she was unemployed, and her husband, a day laborer, had difficulty making ends meet. With no prior experience in poultry farming, El-Sayed has since become a success story, thanks to the program's hands-on support and training.

"I quickly mastered the necessary techniques. I thank the New Hope company very much because they provided us with everything," Sayed said.

"This is not just training, but building a complete industrial chain," said Tarek Hassan, senior manager of government communications at the Misr El Kheir Foundation, a project partner.

He highlighted that the training encompasses all key stages, from the supply of chicks, feed, and medicine, to veterinary care and technical support, and ultimately to product marketing.

According to Hassan, the project's value extends beyond financial benefits, contributing to the social upliftment of women.

Achieving financial independence has enhanced their social status within their communities. Many women have gained such mastery of the techniques that they are now training others, sparking a ripple effect of knowledge sharing, he said.

Walaa Gad El-Karim, director of the central unit of the initiative at the Ministry of Local Development, said the initiative is strategically aligned with Egypt's massive national development mega-project, the "Decent Life" Initiative.

Gad El-Karim spoke highly of China's success in poverty alleviation, describing its achievement in eradicating extreme poverty as a "highly inspiring story."

He added that Egyptian officials are carefully studying the Chinese approach, especially in rural development, to apply China's experience to Egypt's own development efforts.

With the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Egypt approaching next year, Gad El-Karim suggested a symbolic goal of expanding the initiative to 70 villages, aiming to "introduce China's excellent experience in rural revitalization to Egypt."■