November 28, 2006

Egypt targets planting 1.3 million hectares of wheat in 2006/07

Egypt's Ministry of Agriculture plans to plant 3.1 million feddans (1.3 million hectares) of wheat in the 2006/07 season, a ministry official said Monday (Nov 27).

The price for local wheat procurement will be 170 Egyptian pounds (US$29.9) an ardeb (5.619 bushels), the official added.

Local wheat procurement for the 2006/07 season is set to start mid-April.

Egypt's main state wheat buyer, the General Authority for Supply Commodities (GASC), bought 2.7 million tonnes of local wheat in the 2005/06 season.

Egypt consumes between 12 million and 13 million tonnes of wheat a year, and imports about half its needs. It is projected to be the world's largest importer of wheat in 2006/07.

Wheat is planted in October and November and harvested in April and May. GASC is the only state wheat buyer that is allowed to buy domestic wheat.