Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has officially unveiled the country’s ambitious New Delta agricultural project, a massive desert rehabilitation initiative designed to boost local food production, cut reliance on imports, and generate more than two million jobs.
The announcement was made during the 2026 wheat harvest on newly cultivated land located west of the Nile Delta, highlighting what Egyptian authorities describe as the nation’s biggest land reclamation project so far.
When fully developed, the scheme is expected to span about 2.2 million feddans — roughly 9,000 square kilometres — which would expand Egypt’s total farmland by close to 15 percent.
The initiative is centred on producing key crops such as wheat and maize, alongside vegetables and export-focused products including olives and figs, as the country works to reduce costly food imports and ease pressure on foreign currency reserves.
During the launch event, President Sisi disclosed that nearly 800 billion Egyptian pounds, equivalent to around $15.1 billion, has already been invested into the programme.
The funds have been directed toward preparing farmland, building grain storage infrastructure, establishing industrial areas, and constructing extensive road networks linking reclaimed desert regions to the Nile Valley and major ports.
A major feature of the project is its advanced irrigation system.
Egypt’s Minister for Water Resources, Hany Sweilem, explained that agricultural drainage water from the western Nile Delta is being treated at the El Hammam facility situated along the Mediterranean coast.
The treatment plant is capable of processing up to 7.5 million cubic metres of water daily before it is transported through a 170-kilometre canal system supported by 13 pumping stations to irrigate desert farmland.
To achieve the broader target of reclaiming 2.2 million feddans, authorities are planning an additional shorter route equipped with more high-capacity pumping stations to improve water flow.
The highly energy-dependent system enables water to be lifted from low-level drainage channels to elevated desert areas suitable for farming.
Egyptian officials say the New Delta project is intended to strengthen national food security following global disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, while also helping to meet the demands of the country’s rapidly increasing population.
Still, critics have raised concerns about the long-term sustainability of the initiative, pointing to its enormous energy requirements, water management challenges, and the expanding involvement of the military in overseeing major national development projects.
Despite those concerns, the Egyptian government maintains that the New Delta project will position the country as a stronger agricultural exporter and improve its economic self-reliance.