Egypt to produce 4mn T white rice in 2019 season

• Egyptians consume around 3.2 million tonnes of rice annually.
• The figure compares to 2.7 million tonnes produced in the 2018, season, Alaa Khalil, the head of the crop institute of the ministry.

CAIRO: Egypt is set to produce 4 million tonnes of white rice in the 2019 season, an agriculture ministry official said on Tuesday.

The figure compares to 2.7 million tonnes produced in the 2018, season, Alaa Khalil, the head of the crop institute of the ministry, told Reuters.

Khalil said that 2019, production would be enough to cover local needs and leave a surplus.

Egyptians consume around 3.2 million tonnes of rice annually.

Egypt's supply minister had said in September that there would be no need for rice imports this current financial year,  which ends on June 30, 2020.