Straw astray

By Mahmoud Bakr

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Samples of rice straw manual pressers; Minister George promoting the recyclying of rice straw in Al-Tel Al-Kabir, Sharqiya; the Black Cloud overshadows Cairo's skies

MINISTER of State for Environmental Affairs Maged George promoted rice straw recycling in Al-Tel Al-Kabir, Sharqiya, in the presence of the Sharqiya governor, armed forces personnel, parliamentarians, and local dignitaries. He announced that 80 manual straw presses will be made available to young people in Sharqiya on a hire-purchase plan, whereby buyers will pay in LE80 monthly instalments over five years. The move is intended to help overcome the annual rice straw burning problem, the main cause of the seasonal Black Cloud. Unless it is recycled, rice straw is a major health and environmental hazard, according to Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) officials. Egypt annually produces an estimated 30-35 tonnes of agricultural and animal refuse, most of which is used to produce animal feed and fertilisers, but a 3.5 tonnes of plant refuse remains unused. The current move is part of a wider programme in which the EEAA is cooperating with the Armed Forces National Service Department, represented by Queen Service. In addition, the EEAA has provided 180 pressers and 70 tractors to help farmers manage rice straw, while the Ministry of Defence (MOD) offered 1,200 experts, maintenance technicians, and guards. The MOD, which is currently discussing greater coordinating with the Ministry of Agriculture with a view, is also providing 95 tractors of its own, as well as free transport of straw to fertiliser factories in Khattara and Qorein.