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Mursi: Egypt can reach self-sufficiency in wheat within four years
Wheat is seen in Toukh, El-Kalubia governorate, about 25 km (16 miles) northeast of Cairo, April 12, 2013.REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
Egypt can reach self-sufficiency in wheat within four years after which it will not need to import wheat again, said President Mohamed Mursi on Wednesday.
With an annual consumption of 18.8 million tons annually, Egypt imports around half of its wheat.
According to U.S. Department of Agriculture statistics, Egypt's 2012-2013 wheat imports are estimated at 9.5 million tons.
Compared to the previous year, wheat production is up by 30 percent this year at 9.5 billion tons, stated Mursi.
Wheat production is expected to reach 12 million tons in two years.
The government supports farmers, the president said, adding that farmers' demands will be met to enable them to increase production within the coming years.
