Egypt is on track for a remarkably successful wheat harvest season, with over 98 per cent of the total planted area already reaped. Alaa Farouk, Egypt’s Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation, announced on Friday that approximately 3.1 million feddans of wheat have been harvested across the country’s governorates, out of a total planted area of 3.4 million feddans.
The minister also reported significant progress in wheat deliveries to silos and barns. Farmers have so far supplied over 3.2 million tonnes of local wheat, with harvesting, threshing, and supply operations continuing without interruption nationwide.
These positive developments are a direct result of the Ministry of Agriculture’s proactive monitoring. Agricultural directorates in each governorate, alongside dedicated sub-operations rooms within the ministry’s agricultural services and follow-up sector, are continuously overseeing harvesting and supply operations. These teams are also responsible for receiving farmer reports and swiftly addressing any issues that arise.
Minister Farouk emphasized that both harvest and supply rates are proceeding smoothly, attributing this efficiency to directives aimed at facilitating the supply process for farmers. The ministry is also providing crucial technical support, advocating for reduced waste and losses during harvesting, and promoting the use of agricultural mechanization to enhance efficiency.
This year’s wheat production is projected to reach an impressive 10 million tons, with total supplies expected to exceed 4.5 million tonnes. Farouk highlighted that these unprecedented harvest and supply figures are a testament to the state’s significant support during the season, notably the early announcement of a harvest price of LE2,200 per ardeb, which served as a strong incentive for farmers.
The government’s commitment to supporting wheat farmers stems from its recognition of wheat as a strategic crop vital for national food security, particularly in ensuring the availability of subsidized bread. Currently, Egypt covers approximately 56per cent of its domestic wheat needs. The country aims to increase this self-sufficiency to 65per cent in the next phase, while carefully balancing this goal with the needs of other crops and water resource management.
