egyptPoultry plays a significant part in the culture of Egypt – not least in the prominent role it provides women in the country.“Egypt is a densely settled population where arable land is scarce. As raising poultry requires less land it represents an area women can have more access to,” explains Zahra Ahmed, FAO national project coordinator. “In addition it is a family-friendly and fairly time-flexible enterprise that allows women to adjust their schedule around other home-related chores.” Unlike in the case of larger livestock, often women also control the marketing of poultry and poultry products, with money raised going to household items.“In Egypt, almost all women inherit indigenous technical knowledge on rearing, housing, feeding birds and they transfer it to their girls. No taboos are associated with rearing or eating birds. “The rearing of birds dates back to the pharaoh era and is depicted on ancient hieroglyphics. In Egypt we say that where you find people, you will find birds. They are also an important symbolically. Birds are given as a gift to signal friendship between families and to settle any problems in communities.” Photos ©FAO/Giulio Napolitano
|  Chickens are seen at a poultry farm outside of Cairo, Gharbia Governorate. |  Villagers assisting with a local Avian Flu surveillance at a veterinary clinic. |  Workers entering the Mohsen Elshazly poultry farm, Gharbia Governorate. |  A worker walking through the indoor chicken coop at the Mohsen Elshazly poultry farm. |  Entsar Mohamed El Kholoj, poultry farmer, catching a chiken for testing the presence of Avian Flu |  Poultry farmers testing chickens for the Avian Flu virus. |  Testing the presence of Avian Influenza Virus |  Workers collecting eggs at Mohsen Elshazly poultry farm. |  Worker collecting eggs at a poultry farm outside of Cairo. |  Workers in the dressing room at the end of their turn. |  Animal Health Research Institute, testing the presence of avian flu, Cairo. |  Animal Health Research Institute, avian flu statistics are shown on a monitor. |  Animal Health Research Institute, testing the presence of avian flu, Cairo. |  A bird fly over the Mosque of Muhammad Ali at the Citadel, Cairo. |