Egypt's wheat imports decrease by 700,000 tons as domestic production rises

Egypt's Minister of Agriculture Alaa Farouk announced that the country's wheat imports have decreased to approximately 12.5 million tons this year, a reduction of 700,000 tons from 13.2 million tons last year. Domestic wheat production has increased to over 10 million tons, marking a 6.5% rise from the previous year. The government's supply system is nearing its target of 5 million tons, cultivated across 3.76 million acres, an increase of up to 600,000 acres. Farouk highlighted the state's focus on boosting productivity and implementing a contract farming system, which offers farmers guaranteed prices, direct links to factories, and technical support. Average productivity per acre has improved to 18 to 20 ardabs, with some farms achieving 28 ardabs per acre using advanced technologies. This growth is attributed to a rewarding supply price of 2,500 EGP per ardab, an incentive guided by President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, and the development of high-yielding, climate-tolerant varieties through research programs, which have produced about 60 new varieties and hybrids in the last three years.