Egypt aims to increase wheat cultivation to 3.74mn acres

CAIRO: Egypt, the world's largest wheat importer, is looking to plant 3.74 million acres of the crop this season, up from 3.11 million last year, the agriculture ministry spokesman said on Monday.

Egypt's wheat harvest typically runs from about April through July and cultivation is currently underway, with about 1.66 million acres already planted, the spokesman said.

Last harvest the government procured about 3.4 million tonnes of wheat from its farmers.

Egypt has said it plans to purchase about 7 million tonnes of wheat from overseas to make up for its domestic shortfall during the current fiscal year that began last July.