Siwa Land Siwa Land

Report of a visit to our land in SiwaReport of a visit to our land in Siwa

December 2011December 2011

22

Agriculture & irrigation test Agriculture & irrigation test An Agriculture & Irrigation An Agriculture & Irrigation

Engineer making a test to Engineer making a test to the water pump and water the water pump and water quality. The water is of quality. The water is of good drinking qualitygood drinking quality

Interview with Saied about the plants quality& ageInterview with Saied about the plants quality& age

In the photo the agricultural In the photo the agricultural engineer of Siwa Council engineer of Siwa Council asks contractor Saied about asks contractor Saied about the trees age. After this he the trees age. After this he tested the olive trees to tested the olive trees to know their age and quality. know their age and quality.

Interview with Cartography& GPS scanning unit engineer Interview with Cartography& GPS scanning unit engineer

The GPS engineer wearing The GPS engineer wearing black exploring the land to black exploring the land to check the land coordinates check the land coordinates with the GPS device to with the GPS device to confirm documents confirm documents coordination data with his coordination data with his GPS device .GPS device .

The General Authority for Agricultural Reclamation at the Marsa Matrouh Governorate provided The General Authority for Agricultural Reclamation at the Marsa Matrouh Governorate provided the instruction letter belowthe instruction letter below

In translation:In translation:General Authority for Agricultural Reclamation General Authority for Agricultural Reclamation

        Directorate of Alexandria        Directorate of AlexandriaOffice of the applications submitting in MatrouhOffice of the applications submitting in Matrouh

Pursuant to the approval of the Ministry of Agriculture and the General Authority forPursuant to the approval of the Ministry of Agriculture and the General Authority for agricultural agricultural reclamation on the request of reclamation on the request of

General / Taha Mohamed Al Sayied ( Marsa Matrouh Governor )General / Taha Mohamed Al Sayied ( Marsa Matrouh Governor ) The Directorate of Agrarian Reform in Alexandria announces the opening of Agricultural Department The Directorate of Agrarian Reform in Alexandria announces the opening of Agricultural Department

Office at Marsa Matrouh city, to receive applications of legalization of land occupancy ( Wad’a Yad ) Office at Marsa Matrouh city, to receive applications of legalization of land occupancy ( Wad’a Yad ) owned by the Public Authority for Agrarian Reform in the following areas :- (Hamam – Al Ameed - Sidi owned by the Public Authority for Agrarian Reform in the following areas :- (Hamam – Al Ameed - Sidi Abdel Rahman - Dabaa – Ras El hekma - Al Garawla - Sedi Brani - Matruh - Siwa ) .Abdel Rahman - Dabaa – Ras El hekma - Al Garawla - Sedi Brani - Matruh - Siwa ) .

The Application must include the following documents:The Application must include the following documents:

1 – Request to Mr. Engineer / General of the Directorate of Agricultural Reform in 1 – Request to Mr. Engineer / General of the Directorate of Agricultural Reform in Alexandria, Alexandria, describe the following ( The land location – Area - Statement of describe the following ( The land location – Area - Statement of development on the land) .development on the land) .

2 - Copy of National ID card.2 - Copy of National ID card.

3 - Land occupancy documents (certificate of the Agricultural Society – the customary 3 - Land occupancy documents (certificate of the Agricultural Society – the customary sale contract sale contract which must be officially notarized - water, electricity bill if applicable – which must be officially notarized - water, electricity bill if applicable –

a certificate from the local council if applicable).a certificate from the local council if applicable).

4 - Cadastral map signed and certified by a consulting engineer.4 - Cadastral map signed and certified by a consulting engineer.

5 - Signed acknowledgment statement declaring the stability of the land holding 5 - Signed acknowledgment statement declaring the stability of the land holding (Wada’i(Wada’i Yad) without dispute.Yad) without dispute.

6 - Payment application fee 1 one pound per one square meter of buildings land .6 - Payment application fee 1 one pound per one square meter of buildings land .

7 - Payment application fee100 one hundred pounds per Feddan of agricultural 7 - Payment application fee100 one hundred pounds per Feddan of agricultural land.land.

8 - The agricultural land requires to be planted and have a suitable source of 8 - The agricultural land requires to be planted and have a suitable source of irrigation and registered at the inventory of agricultural solidarity before 2006.irrigation and registered at the inventory of agricultural solidarity before 2006.

9 - Commitment to the instructions issued by the Board of Directors of the Public 9 - Commitment to the instructions issued by the Board of Directors of the Public Authority for Agrarian Reform concerning the legalization procedures of (Wada’i Authority for Agrarian Reform concerning the legalization procedures of (Wada’i Yad).Yad).10 – Submitting the applications will be on Tuesday and Wednesday of each week 10 – Submitting the applications will be on Tuesday and Wednesday of each week at the office of Agricultural Department at Marsa Matrouh City, with effect from at the office of Agricultural Department at Marsa Matrouh City, with effect from October 25, 2011 and until January 11, 2012.October 25, 2011 and until January 11, 2012.

Dated 18/10/2011 Dated 18/10/2011 Office Manager / Engineer / Adil RashidOffice Manager / Engineer / Adil Rashid

Questions & AnswersQuestions & AnswersQ. What are the conditions for using the land, whether it can be used for olives and Q. What are the conditions for using the land, whether it can be used for olives and palms only or whether regulations allow the planting of other products such as gazwarina?palms only or whether regulations allow the planting of other products such as gazwarina?

A. You can plant any products including gazwarina. Only marijuana and weeds areA. You can plant any products including gazwarina. Only marijuana and weeds areforbidden.forbidden.

Q. Q. WhatWhat about building and using the land for tourism purposes? about building and using the land for tourism purposes?

A. The building area allowed is 2% from the total planted area. Because there is 20 A. The building area allowed is 2% from the total planted area. Because there is 20 feddans of land under cultivation now it is possible to build 0.04 feddan now. Oncefeddans of land under cultivation now it is possible to build 0.04 feddan now. Oncemore land is cultivated also more land can be used for buildings. The land can be used formore land is cultivated also more land can be used for buildings. The land can be used fortourism purposes if this is joined with farming activity such as a Farming Camp fortourism purposes if this is joined with farming activity such as a Farming Camp forAgricultural Research or training purpose, Duck Lake and fish farm plus the cattle whichAgricultural Research or training purpose, Duck Lake and fish farm plus the cattle whichshould go under the agricultural umbrella, not tourism.should go under the agricultural umbrella, not tourism.