STORY: Tomato farmers in S. Egypt turn to sun-dried product exports to boost income
SHOOTING TIME: Jan. 9, 2025
DATELINE: Jan. 12, 2025
LENGTH: 00:01:32
LOCATION: LUXOR, Egypt
CATEGORY: AGRICULTURE

SHOTLIST:
1. various of sun-dried tomatoes
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): BASMA SALAH, Farmer in Luxor
3. various of farmers producing sun-dried tomatoes
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): MUSTAFA FOUAD, Farmer in Luxor

STORYLINE:

In the southern Egyptian village of Al-Baghdadi, Luxor Province, tomato is a popular crop among local farmers, thriving in the area's warm temperatures and abundant sunshine.

Tomato prices fluctuate throughout the year. During peak production months, when supply is abundant, prices often drop sharply, resulting in surplus waste.

To combat post-harvest losses and boost incomes, farmers have turned to the export market for sun-dried tomatoes.

SOUNDBITE 1 (Arabic): BASMA SALAH, Farmer in Luxor
"The project provided many job opportunities for people who live nearby, especially for women in the area who were unemployed. This has helped them to increase their monthly income."

SOUNDBITE 2 (Arabic): MUSTAFA FOUAD, Farmer in Luxor
"The project aims to reduce the loss of food crops by drying tomatoes in winter and various vegetables in summer."

Many farmers have found economic independence by producing sun-dried tomatoes at home, using rooftops and backyards for the drying process.
  
According to data from Egypt's Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, the country's exports of dried tomatoes exceed 100 million dollars annually. The data also revealed that one hectare yields 35 tons of dried tomatoes, which are sold for 350,000 Egyptian pounds.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Luxor, Egypt.
(XHTV)