CAIRO, May 13, 2018 - Around 2.6 million tonnes of local wheat were received from farmers at a total cost of LE10.3 billion, during 30 days of the local harvest season which started on April 15; and 19,000 tonnes of diseased wheat were shunned, according to the Minister of Supply and Internal Trade, Dr Ali el-Messelhi. In a statement on Sunday, Minister el-Messelhi said that the supply rate had increased this year as a result of weather changes which had led to an early harvest. The government is keen on supporting the farmers by purchasing all their wheat at a competitive price and facilitating delivery and payment in order to store strategic reserves of the wheat, which is used to produce subsidised bread. This year, the wheat produced locally, which is better in quality than the imported variety, is expected to reach 3.5 to 4 million tonnes, Minister el-Messelhi said. El-Messelhi stressed that a great effort was being exerted by the Food Industries Holding Company to facilitate the buying and proper storage of wheat and to guarantee that farmers were paid their dues promptly.
