April 14, 2012

Egypt's wheat yield to reach 8.46 million tonnes

As farmers plant more and use improved seeds, the wheat output of Egypt is seen to grow 1.1% this year, the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization said.

Farmers may harvest 8.46 million tonnes of wheat from 8.37 million tonnes in 2011, the Rome-based UN agency wrote in a report on its website. The outlook for winter crops to be harvested from May is "generally favorable," the FAO said.

Egypt's domestic wheat is mostly irrigated. The country is the world's largest importer of the grain, with shipments forecast to climb to 10.5 million tonnes in the year through June from 10.4 million tonnes in 2010-11, the according to data from the International Grains Council.

"The good wheat-crop performance was due to larger planted area and to the increased use of improved seeds which contributed to increase yields," the FAO wrote.

Egypt harvested an above-average wheat crop last year, according to the FAO.

Corn production in 2012 is forecast to climb 3.1% to 7.55 million tonnes from 7.32 million tonnes, while paddy production of rice is seen unchanged at 5.8 million tonnes, according to the FAO.