Wednesday 16 December 2020
Last update on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 At 6:20 PM
This stock, which is higher than last year, will be achieved thanks to improved varieties and the increase in cultivated areas.
The Egyptian executive expects a harvest of 10 million tonnes of wheat in the 2020/2021 season, 500,000 tonnes more than a year earlier. According to Reuters, who quotes Alaa Khalil, in charge of research on main crops at the Ministry of Agriculture, this progress will be achieved in particular through crop improvement.
Indeed, says the leader, new varieties of wheat have been developed and are being tested in the field in order to increase productivity. In addition, the country is expected to plant this season, 1.45 million hectares against 1.37 million hectares in the previous season.
For Egypt, the increase in local wheat production remains crucial as consumption is expected to increase in the coming years with demographic dynamism. In addition, the country depends for more than 60% on imports to meet its annual consumption of 20 million tonnes of wheat, a situation which weighs on public finances.
The Egyptian government spends approximately $ 3 billion annually to finance its bread subsidy program for the population.
Source Ecofin agency
