Al-Sharkia Governor Eng. Hazem El-Ashmouny chaired a meeting of the Higher Committee overseeing elections for the boards of agricultural cooperative associations across the governorate for the 2027–2032 term. The meeting reviewed preparations and organizational arrangements for the elections, discussed the timetable for candidacy and voting procedures, and emphasized compliance with applicable laws and regulations to ensure transparency and integrity and enable association members to freely choose their representatives. The elections cover 539 agricultural cooperatives, including agricultural credit, agricultural reform, and land reclamation associations.

The meeting was attended by Major General Abdel Ghaffar El-Deeb, Secretary-General of the Governorate; Eng. Emad Genjen, First Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture in Sharqia; Eng. Mohamed Ibrahim Desouky, Director General of Agricultural Cooperation; El-Sayed El-Ghandour, Director General of the Governorate’s Production and Economic Affairs Department; Hany El-Sayed, Director General of the Legal Affairs Department; members of the Higher Elections Committee; and a representative of the Sharqia Security Directorate. It was held at the Governorate’s headquarters.

At the beginning of the meeting, the Governor stressed the important role of agricultural cooperatives in supporting agricultural activities, developing rural communities, and improving services for farmers. He emphasized that elections must be conducted in accordance with legal regulations to ensure the selection of boards capable of improving the performance of cooperatives and enhancing the services provided to their members.

The Governor also highlighted the importance of showcasing successful and active agricultural cooperatives and benefiting from their experiences to promote knowledge-sharing, improve operational efficiency, support agricultural development, and make the best use of available resources.

 Eng. Emad Genjen, First Undersecretary of the Ministry of Agriculture in Sharqia, announced that candidacy applications would be accepted for five days, from October 17 to 21, 2026. The application period may be extended by an additional three days if the required number of candidates is not reached.

He added that applications and supporting documents would subsequently be reviewed, followed by the submission and examination of appeals in accordance with established procedures to ensure transparency and integrity. The Agricultural Development and Credit Bank will also review the outstanding debts of candidates, while coordination with Al-Sharkia Security Directorate will ensure the security of polling stations during voting and vote counting.

The First Undersecretary explained that the elections cover 539 agricultural cooperatives across the governorate: 444 agricultural credit associations, 74 agricultural reform associations, and 21 land reclamation associations. An electoral committee will be formed at each association to conduct its board elections.

General assemblies will be invited to convene to hold elections or approve the formation of boards when candidates are elected unopposed. The process will take place in four phases, in accordance with the timelines and procedures stipulated in **Ministerial Decree No. 521 of 2021, governing elections for the boards of agricultural credit, reform, and land reclamation cooperatives.