Egypt seeks self-sufficiency in wheat to lessen dependence on US

Egyptian Minister of Trade and Supply Ahmed Goweili said his country has endorsed three agreements for importing wheat from Turkey, Argentina and the US, adding that the pacts insure the country's supply of wheat through the end of March.

He also pointed out that Egypt is varying the sources of imports to end the total Egyptian dependency on the US as a basic supplier.

Goweili also pointed out that both Turkey and Argentina entered "club" of wheat importers to Egypt, which includes Australia, France, and India after Egypt was totally 90% dependent on the US.

The Egyptian government is currently adopting a policy of reducing wheat purchases and beginning to encourage cultivators to increase the cultivated areas of wheat to be 2 million feddans, so achieve greater rate of self-sufficiency.