Egyptian wheat production exceeds 10 million tons, reducing import bill

This growth has positively impacted the country's import bill, reducing wheat imports to approximately 12.5 million tons. The government procurement system has recorded its highest historical rates, nearing its target of 5 million tons. This surge is attributed to a record increase in wheat cultivation areas, reaching 3.76 million feddans, an increase of nearly 600,000 feddans.

An incentive procurement price of 2,500 Egyptian pounds per ardeb was offered to farmers, based on directives from President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Production efficiency has also improved, with an average yield of 18 to 20 ardebs per feddan, and up to 28 ardebs per feddan on farms using advanced technologies. This places Egypt among leading countries in wheat production efficiency.

The success is also due to research programs by the Agricultural Research Center, which developed 60 new, high-yielding, climate-tolerant varieties for strategic crops, including wheat. Notable new wheat varieties include "Misr 3" and "Misr 4," rust-resistant "Giza 171," water-efficient "Sakha 95 and 96," and early-maturing "Seds 14 and 15." Durum wheat varieties like "Beni Suef 5 and 7" and "Sohag 5 and 6" were also developed.

These advancements were complemented by modern, water-efficient farming practices across 2.8 million acres