By Doaa Farid

The economic ministerial group headed by Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawi has announced measures to reduce inflation, according to state-own Al-Ahram.

Deputy  Prime Minister Ziad Bahaa El-Din said the group will address revitalisation and development of agricultural production by granting debt exemptions to small farmers.

The group is planning to survey available agricultural land in different governorates, in order to regulate its sale to farmers and businessmen, in accordance with rules “that will verify justice and equal opportunity.”

Bahaa El-Din also said these measures will ensure the increased availability of fertilisers during the current maize season, which he said would provide an alternative to the black market.

Gamal Seyam, an adviser to the Agriculture Economic Studies Centre at Cairo University, said there are more urgent measures that the cabinet should have considered regarding the development of agricultural production, adding that “counting the lands for example would take more time than the scheduled term of the intermim cabinet.”

The group also decided to facilitate the allocation of land for industrial investments, by submitting a law to the cabinet which aims to avoid land speculation.

The ministerial group also plans to improve infrastructure conditions, and provide new job opportunities, through the government’s social fund programme over the next three years.