Egypt, Elsewedy review progress on Ain Sokhna phosphate complex    US employment cost index 3.6% up in year to June 2025    Egypt welcomes Canada, Malta's decision to recognise Palestinian state    Pakistan says successfully concluded 'landmark trade deal' with US    Sterling set for sharpest monthly drop since 2022    Egypt, Brazil sign deal to boost pharmaceutical cooperation    Modon Holding posts AED 2.1bn net profit in H1 2025    Egypt's Electricity Ministry says new power cable for Giza area operational    Egypt's Al-Sisi, Italian defence minister discuss Gaza, security cooperation    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, Nile dam with US senators    Aid airdrops intensify as famine deepens in Gaza amid mounting international criticism    Egypt exports first high-tech potato seeds to Uzbekistan after opening market    Health minister showcases AI's impact on healthcare at Huawei Cloud Summit    On anti-trafficking day, Egypt's PM calls fight a 'moral and humanitarian duty'    Egypt strengthens healthcare partnerships to enhance maternity, multiple sclerosis, and stroke care    Egypt keeps Gaza aid flowing, total tops 533,000 tons: minister    Indian Embassy to launch cultural festival in Assiut, film fest in Cairo    Egyptian aid convoy heads toward Gaza as humanitarian crisis deepens    Culture minister launches national plan to revive film industry, modernise cinematic assets    I won't trade my identity to please market: Douzi    Sisi sends letter to Nigerian president affirming strategic ties    Two militants killed in foiled plot to revive 'Hasm' operations: Interior ministry    Egypt, Somalia discuss closer environmental cooperation    Egypt's EHA, Huawei discuss enhanced digital health    Foreign, housing ministers discuss Egypt's role in African development push    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Three ancient rock-cut tombs discovered in Aswan    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Egypt's Irrigation Minister urges scientific cooperation to tackle water scarcity    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



EGP 4.2bn annual losses due to poor wheat handling
Published in Daily News Egypt on 01 - 12 - 2014

The estimated annual wheat losses due to improper handling during production and manufacturing amounts to approximately EGP 4.2bn, according to Mohamed Ali Mousa, wheat expert with the Agricultural Research Centre.
Mousa added that annual waste weighs 1.3m tonnes while the price per tonne is EGP 2,800.
He told Daily News Egypt that since the wheat season started last week in Ismailia, wheat production reached 9.2m tonnes for the 2013/2014 season. This entails that the country is losing 14% of total production, compared to only 2% in developed countries.
He added that losses due to poor practices have reached 609,000 tonnes, of which 315,000 tonnes are considered human consumption losses due to poor bread baking. Another 156,400 tonnes are lost during the hay harvest and during transport from the field to the storage silos.
He also pointed to 66,000 tonnes in losses due to pests and rodents, when crops are stored in poorly equipped warehouses with the Principal Bank for Development & Agricultural Credit. There are also 48,000 tonnes in bakeries and 8,500 tonnes in mills.
Mousa said that estimated losses associated with non-human consumption are 670,000 tonnes, of which 500,000 tonnes represent losses in cow and buffalo feeding. This is in addition to 130,000 tonnes for sheep and goats, 28,000 tonnes for camels, and 12,000 tonnes for birds.
He expected that the cultivated land for this season would reach 3.5m acres, while production will increase to 10m tonnes. He added that annual consumption for Egypt amounts to roughly 14.4m tonnes, meaning that the country has achieved 70% self-sufficiency.
Mousa confirmed it is impossible to expand wheat cultivation to over 3.5m acres, as maintaining land fertility requires an agricultural cycle where wheat and other winter crops are cultivated alternately.
He said the total area of cultivated land in Egypt is 8.6m acres, of which 1.6m acres are cultivated with sustainable fruit trees. The other 7m are cultivated with field crops, distributed between wheat and the remaining winter crops.
He added that clover is cultivated on an area of 1.5m acres, sugar beets 500,000 acres, and sugar cane 320,000 acres. The rest of the land is cultivated with green beans, lentils, beans, peas, tomatoes, and other vegetables.
Mousa said the real challenge for Egypt is its limited wheat storage capacity which does not exceed 4.22m tonnes. There are 2m tonnes located at the Principal Bank for Development & Agricultural Credit storage, 1.49m tonnes in silos, and 731,000 tonnes in mills.
He also discussed the efforts of the Agricultural Research Centre to increase wheat production. In 2004, cultivated land measured 2.6m acres, while for the 2013/2014 season, this number reached 3.2m acres. Total production increased from 7.1m tonnes to 9.2m tonnes during the same period.


Clic here to read the story from its source.