Kodak Agfa presents: Egypt’s Spring Flowers Fair 2023 at the Agricultural Museum

Usually, the Ministry of Agriculture holds the annual Spring Flowers Fair from March to April. However, this year, the fair was neither held on time nor in its usual location.

To the surprise, or rather shock, of its regular visitors, the Ministry of Agriculture announced that the Orman Botanical Garden would be closed for renovations right after the Ramadan supplies exhibit in March.

The closure of the Orman Botanical Garden for a major renovation operation has raised concerns among many, including myself.

This renovation also includes the oldest Zoo in Africa and the Middle East, the Giza Zoo. According to reports in the Egyptian media, the renovation process, which is led by the Military Production Ministry and a consortium of foreign companies, is expected to take a year and a half.

This situation is so alarming that it has left me feeling depressed to even speak about it. According to Al-Shorouk Newspaper, both the Orman Botanical Garden and the Giza Zoo will remain open until July 9th before they are closed for renovations to become "One Grand Zoo."

The government cannot close the Giza Zoo during Eid because it is the main attraction for Egyptians during the Eid Adha holiday, and thousands of people from all over the country visit it during this time.

I, along with others who fear losing the zoo as we know it, visited it in the winter. The zoo holds a special place in the hearts of all Egyptians with its classical historical look.

I was hoping to visit Orman Garden during the Spring Flowers Fair, but for the first time in decades, the fair was not held there.

Initially, I believed the fair had been cancelled due to ongoing renovation works and the economic crisis, which had affected imports in Egypt. However, I was mistaken.

It turned out that the fair was indeed held but in a different location.

The 90th Spring Flowers Fair took place at the Agricultural Museum in Giza from May 27th to June 27th, running from 9 AM to 9 PM. The video tour of the fair is at bottom of this post, so yes you must read it to the end. 👼

The Spring Flowers Fair 2023 was held at Egypt's Agricultural Museum in Giza 

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the 90th edition of Egypt's longest-running fair saw the participation of over two hundred exhibitors.

The fair displayed more than 1,000 types of plants, including flowers and fruit trees.

Jasmine tree sold at a partition inside Egypt's Spring Flowers Fair 2023

One would expect the Ministry of Agriculture or the government to have promoted the fair more, especially considering it was the 90th edition.

Additionally, according to official statements from the Ministry of Agriculture, this year's fair aimed to promote widespread afforestation in Egypt under the banner of the presidential one hundred million Trees initiative. 

That did not happen, and I learned about the fair by accident through social media.

The Spring Flowers Fair 2023 held at Egypt's Agricultural Museum in Giza 

Fortunately, I had the opportunity to attend the fair. I had always wanted to visit the Agricultural Museum of Egypt, which was inaugurated in 1930.

It is a complex dedicated to agriculture and flora in Egypt since ancient times.

Located near the old Ministry of Agriculture buildings in Dokki, Giza, it is one of the most underrated museums in the country.

Visiting the museum provided me with another reason to endure the hot days of June. I purchased a LE 10 ticket for entry to both the museum and the fair.

Inside the fair 

In this post, I won't focus on the Agriculture Museum but rather on the Spring Flowers Fair 2023.

Here are some of my remarks about this edition of Egypt's Spring Flowers Fair in its temporary venue hopefully inshallah. It appears that the number of visitors this year was lower compared to previous years based on my observation of two visits. 

A partition for a cacti farm at the farm from the veteran exhibitors 

Unfortunately, not everyone was aware of the fair's new schedule and location. 

Additionally, the fair was missing an important group of attendees: the Cairo University students who used to frequent it during their breaks and before or after lectures. 

The Orman Garden, which hosted the fair, is conveniently located right next to Cairo University.

A partition beside another museum at the huge agricultural museum complex 

It was also held at the same time school, high school and university exams were held 

It also missed the families from the working class who would visit the fair and spend time at the Orman Botanical Garden with their children.

We are talking about Giza's biggest and oldest public garden.

A flowering tree inside a flower nursery's partition from the veteran 
exhibitors inside the fair. I do not know the name of the tree. 

The hot weather also posed challenges for the flowers and plants. However, the familiar exhibitors I have seen at the fair for decades were still present.

To be honest, the famous veteran exhibitors had less space at the Agricultural Museum compared to the space they had at the Orman Garden when I compare the photos.

Palm trees, flowers, and plants at the partition of a landscaping company
from the veteran exhibitors of the fair

The Ministry of Agriculture got lots of partitions as expected as the fair was held in their official historical background.

The partition of the production sector at the Ministry of Agriculture
Usually, their products are cheaper than other companies and nurseries

The whole block in Dokki is known to be the Ministry of Agriculture and its authorities, offices, and research centres since the time of the Egyptian Kingdom. 

I do not know what they are going with those buildings because the Ministry of Agriculture's headquarters have been transferred to the New Administrative Capital in June. 

Buying plants pots from one of the Ministry
of Agriculture's partitions at the fair 

Also, the familiar selfie-takers with photos were there thankfully.

They are still and I can't blame them the flowers look alike fresh breeze
in the heart of Giza and Cairo together 

Those who came wanted to enjoy a beautiful breeze and scenery on hot June days.

A mother and children at the fair 

This year, there seemed to be fewer flowers for sale and more fruits, herbs, and vegetables available.

I do not know the name of this plant but it caught my eyes 

Fruit and vegetable trees, such as lemon, mango, bell peppers, citrus, and berries, were in high demand.

Fruit trees including grape vines and grapefruit for sale at this nursery partition 
at Egypt's Spring Flowers Fair 2032

People find it more affordable to cultivate their own vegetables and fruits. Already in March according to Egypt's Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) fruit prices have surged by 26.2 % while vegetables by 17.5%. 

This is old data because they increased after March too. 

Checking out plants to grow at home 

Either way, for some families trying to grow pepper bells or cherry tomatoes or even berries could be a nice solution to cope with the economic crisis in their own way. 

For the first time, I knew that there was something called blue tea thanks to this year’s edition of the fair.

Blue tea and golden berries sold at Egypt's Spring Flowers Fair 2023

It was sold along with golden berries.

I found a grapevine for sale and God knows I wanted to buy it only for the sake of the stuffed grape vines and not for the grapes.

Those grapevine papers need to be stuffed asap!! 

I do not have a garden and I do not think we can grow grapevines on our balconies. I do not know how Italy does not use, it can win millions if it exports grape vines to the Mideast countries.

Interestingly, the Ministry of Agriculture not only participated with various sections displaying plants from different sectors but also organized partitions where fifty vendors sold food items, including meat, at discounted rates, under the "Our Farms Are for the Good of Our People" initiative.

Ministry of Agriculture had a booth selling meats from its farms at a reduced prices 
First time to see in Egypt's Spring Flowers Fair

It's worth noting that Egypt is currently facing one of the worst economic crises in its modern age. There were also handicraft product partitions sponsored by the government at the fair.

Handmade products sponsored by the government were sold 
at Egypt's Spring Flowers Fair 

The prices of the flowers, fruit trees, plants and cacti were not that expensive considering the economic crisis.

The prices started from LE 5 to thousands of pounds for the big, imported trees, which I guess unlike other editions were not that available this edition.

Visitors checking out cacti at Egypt's Spring Flowers Fair 

Cacti are still a fair top demand because of their affordable prices as well as their ability to live in Egypt’s weather. 

Their prices ranged from LE 15 and LE 20 up to LE 3000 for the big, imported types

Wide range of different types of Cacti
sold at Egypt's Spring Flowers Fair 

Egypt is already considered a top cacti exporter to the Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Lebanon.

Nevertheless, the prices of pots, mud, fertilizers, and other agricultural supplies were more expensive.

Big pots sold at the Spring Flowers Fair 

To be honest, during my two visits to the fair, what caught my attention were the impressive Art Deco and mid-century buildings of the Agricultural Museum.

An art deco building inside the Agricultural Museum Complex 

However, I will not delve into them further in this post. 

I will focus on beautiful flowers as usual.

Tiny flowers caught my attention this year.

Tiny pink flowers at Egypt's Spring Flowers Fair 2023 

One of the tiny flowers that caught my eye was the famous Lantana Camara or L.Camara or as known in Egypt as Lantana.

This is the first time I have ever seen this beautiful flowering plant with its out-of-the-world shape.

A very close-up look at Lantana at Egypt's Spring Flowers Fair 

They look amazing. They remind me of the orange mini-size chiclets if you still remember them. Interestingly, Lantana has another name in Arabic which is “Um Kulthum”.

It is unclear why it was named such a name.

Lanatana or Um Kulthum up close and personal at Egypt's Spring Flowers Fair 2023

Was it named after the legendary Egyptian singer Um Kulthum? Or is it related to the meaning of the name in Arabic itself!? “Um Kulthum” means in Arabic “The woman with chubby cheeks”. It is another mystery.

Here is how small they are.

This is how small Lantana flowers are 

Lantana or Um Kulthum was sold for LE 10 per pot at the fair.

I did not know the name of those flowers too.

Tiny flowers sold at Egypt's Spring Flowers Fair 

But I think they are related to lilies; they look like tiny lilies. If you know its name, please share it with us in the comments. I would be very thankful. 

Tiny flowers sold at Egypt's Spring Flowers Fair 

The beautiful daisies were there.

 

White daisies around some plants at Egypt's Spring Flowers Fair 2023

Daisies were there from every type and colour.

Violet, yellow, and white daisies at Egypt's Spring Flowers Fair 2023

I do know the name of that flower, but it is beautiful and was blossoming in June’s hot weather.

A beautiful blossoming flower at the fair. If you know its name, please
Share it in the comments

The cactus flowers were amazing for real.

A blossoming red cactus flower at Egypt's Spring Flowers Fair 2023

In case you do not know the total number of identified medicinal and aromatic plants in Egypt amounts to approximately 2,500 species, including forty species that are widely traded, especially for export purposes.

Daisies and flowers of all kinds and types were sold in Egypt's 
Spring Flowers Fair 2023

These forty species represent 95% of the total exports, while domestic consumption accounts for around 5% only.

This highlights the importance of these types of plants, which will increase the volume of exports. It is like another opportunity for Egyptian exports if we play it right.

A beautiful blossoming cactus flower at Egypt's Spring Flowers Fair 2023

According to the data from the Agricultural Export Council, 6.3 tons of cut flowers were exported with a value of US$ 4.3 million during the 2021-2022 season, while 6.4 tons were exported with a value of US$ 5.4 million from September 2022 to March 2023.

A beautiful cactus flower at Egypt's Spring Flowers Fair 2023 

The data further indicated that 2.3 tons of ornamental plants were exported with a value of US$ 1.2 million dollars in the previous season, and 3.6 tons were exported with a value of US$ 3.6 million dollars in the current season until March of the same year.

I think a Jasmine tree, but I am not sure

Now I am keeping the best for the last and if you did not get bored of this long post then you deserve to see what I found at the Agricultural Museum. 

The Agriculture Ministry decided to share with the public its peacocks at the Fair to please the visitors. 

The peacock of the Spring Flowers Fair 2023

I have seen live fish being sold at the fair before, but this is the first time I have seen a peacock. I'm unsure whether the Ministry borrowed it from the Giza Zoo.

It happened to be the peacock's mating season, yet Mrs Peacock seemed indifferent to his attempts to impress, despite the gathering of people who witnessed Mr Peacock displaying his breathtakingly vibrant plumage.

Showing off its tail to impress Mrs. 

Again, if you know the names of the plants or flowers appearing in the photos, I will be very thankful if you share them with me because some of them had no labels. 

I feel sad that the Ministry of Agriculture did not celebrate the 90th anniversary of this important fair which is part of our social history.

Here is the video tour of the fair this year. You can find Mr Peacock at the end too so be sure to watch it till the end. It is not long. The video has English subtitles, you can click the "CC"

I feel sadder because I think the Spring Flowers Fair in the future won’t be held anymore at Orman botanical garden according to what is being said in the media.