Agriculture Minister Essam Fayed said the government has allocated LE300 million to buy the total cotton crop production, adding that it is paying LE1,100 per 100 kg for the varieties grown in Upper Egypt and LE1,250 for long staple cotton grown in the Delta.
He said 250,000 acres of cotton produced nearly 200 million kg this season for domestic and export use, adding that the ministry is developing strategies to ensure that Egyptian cotton is not mixed with other varieties.
Fayed also talked about a plan to reduce manufacturing for spinning factories and reduce the export of raw cotton.
The minister also said that the government is marketing strategic crops, such as cotton, wheat and corn, before cultivation.
He added that he has tasked the Agricultural Research Center with studying ways of expanding the cultivation of yellow maize and soybeans so as to save hard currency.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
