Egypt Wheat Harvest Yields 4.72 Million Tons, Exceeds Last Year's Total

Egypt's domestic wheat harvest has yielded a significant amount, with the country procuring 4.72 million metric tons of freshly harvested wheat between mid-April and mid-August. This is a notable increase from last year's harvest, which saw around 4 million tons being procured by the government.

The total falls short of Egypt's target of 5 million tons, despite efforts to introduce reforms aimed at reducing the country's reliance on imports. These measures include offering higher prices for wheat, distributing better seeds, and reclaiming desert land for wheat cultivation.

However, when durum wheat purchased for pasta factories and seed stocks are included, the government has actually surpassed its 5 million ton goal, according to a supply ministry spokesperson.

Egypt's agriculture minister had previously announced plans to achieve self-sufficiency in wheat for subsidized bread by 2028. The country imports around 10 million tons of wheat annually, with half being bought by the government as part of a bread subsidy program that supports around 70 million people.