Dr. Alaa Farouk, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, responded to the proposal submitted by the Poultry Division to the Ministry of Agriculture regarding converting shops selling live poultry into outlets for selling refrigerated and frozen poultry.

In a televised statement on Al-Hadath Al-Youm channel, he said that closing live poultry shops is “illogical” because these shops are a source of livelihood for a wide segment of citizens, while emphasizing the importance of providing slaughterhouses.

He explained that the transition requires slaughterhouses, refrigerated trucks, and freezers owned by large farms; however, the rural sector represents a large part of the breeding system.

He added that the matter requires working “gradually and not overnight,” noting that work is currently underway with large farms and the Poultry Producers Union, but more time is needed to fully implement the transition.

He affirmed that the ministry always works in favor of citizens, investment, and small projects, adding: “It is not logical to suddenly restrict trade to only slaughtered and refrigerated poultry; this requires thought, and the work will take gradual steps in coordination with investors and the Producers Union.”

He stressed that “the economy is improving, inflation is declining, and production input prices have started to decrease,” in addition to the reduction of bank interest rates, confirming that prices will continue to fall in the coming period due to abundant production and the availability of subsidized fertilizers.