August 26, 2014
Egypt targets 79% self-sufficiency in wheat output by 2017
Egypt is aiming for 75% self-sufficiency in wheat production by the end of 2017, said the country's agriculture minister, Adel al-Beltagy.
The minister adds that the accomplishment of the target depends on the implementation of sound practices which can lead to increased production and reduce losses. The agriculture ministry's plan is to produce high-quality trefoil seeds, a vital crop for animal production, which could boost its total output and, at the same time, diminish the scope of its plantation, providing more space for wheat.
Egypt, the world's top wheat importer, usually imports about 10 million tonnes of wheat annually from international markets and uses a mix of local and imported wheat for the subsidised bread which millions of Egyptians depend on.
