October 27, 2009
Egypt targets 75 percent self-sufficiency in wheat
Egypt, the world's largest wheat importer, aims to be 75 percent self-sufficient in wheat in 10 years, up from the current 55 percent, according to an Agriculture Ministry official.
Egypt seeks to increase the wheat acreage annually and also increase the amount of wheat produced per feddan, the official said, adding that Egypt was targeting an increase of 70,000 feddans or 29,400 per year.
Egypt has one of the highest rates of per capita wheat consumption in the world, at around 120 kilogrammes per person per year. The most populous Arab country, it consumes around 14 million tonnes of wheat annually, and imports around six million tonnes.
