EGYPT CLOSE TO ACHIEVING SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN RICE PRODUCTION: SUPPLY MINISTER

EGYPT CLOSE TO ACHIEVING SELF-SUFFICIENCY IN RICE PRODUCTION: SUPPLY MINISTER
24 September 2022
Jehad El-Sayed's article for AhramOnline news website https://english.ahram.org.eg/ is discussing about recent  Minister of Supply and Internal Trade Ali Moselhi’s statement about Egypt’s self-sufficiency in rice, abundant wheat reserves capable to satisfy 6.3 months demand, also sugar reserves capacity to supply during 5.1 months period.

The country harvested 4.5 million tons of rice comparing to the previous years 6.2 million tons, according to the report of the Chamber of Grain Production but increase in yield is expected after an extension of lands for rice cultivation.

The author also referred on the minister’s report who mentioned about sufficiency of other commodities such as oil products to cover 5.4 months, frozen poultry to cover 6.2 months, meat to cover 13.4 months, and pasta for 5.4 months. Simultaneously, government is supporting farmers thoroughly to enlarge wheat production providing wheat procurement price for EGP 1,000 per ardeb (1 ardeb is equivalent to 150kg).

Head of the Egyptian government Mostafa Madbouly is announced launch of the new program to support cultivation and supply of wheat through new improved systems, attracting more younger farmers and supplying the harvest to the government.

To combat price inflation amid a current Russian and Ukraine war, Egypt’s government established new guide prices for wheat. The country previously extensively relied on the Russian and Ukrainian grain, is diversifying wheat import sector through invoking local farmers to supply the wheat to internal market. Local suppliers are encouraged to sell it by increased price to EGP 810 instead of EGP 710 per ardeb additionally farmers granted an auxiliary incentive of EGP 65 for each ardeb of wheat. Accordingly, Egypt has bought 4.2 million tonnes of wheat from local farmers, representing around 70 percent of the targeted 6 million tonnes.

The original article is available here: https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/476548.aspx