Egypt has planted more than 3 million acres of land with wheat during the current season, Minister of Agriculture Ayman Farid Abu Hadid said Saturday, noting that indicators note that the total of productivity stands at 8 million tonnes.
Egypt is the world’s largest wheat importer, importing nearly 10 million tons of the grain from abroad and about 3.6 million from local farmers. Wheat is vital for the production of local subsidized bread.
In statements during a visit to Daqahlia province, the minister said the total of imports during 2013 stood at 3.5 million tons, while the state eyes an importing rate of 4.2 million tons during 2014.
Abu Hadid noted that the ministry is currently implementing a plan to reduce wheat wastage during the transportation, storage and trading processes, which currently stands at an annual 15 percent of the production.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
