Egypt harvests more than 10 mln tons of wheat for the first time

Egypt’s wheat harvest exceeded 10 mln tons for the first time in 2026, setting a new national record. According to Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk, production increased by 6.5% compared to the previous year. Higher domestic output has reduced the country’s wheat import requirement to 12.5 mln tons, down from 13.2 mln tons in the previous season.

The government is also close to achieving a record level of wheat procurement. It aims to purchase 5 mln tons from local farmers by the end of the current season, the highest volume in the country’s history. A key driver has been the increase in the government procurement price to 2,500 Egyptian pounds per ardeb (198 liters).

Production growth was supported by a significant expansion in planted area. Wheat acreage reached 3.76 mln feddans in 2026, nearly 600 thsd feddans more than a year earlier. Average yields improved to 18–20 ardebs per feddan, while farms using advanced technologies achieved yields of up to 28 ardebs per feddan.

The minister said that breeding programs led by the Agricultural Research Center played a major role in boosting productivity. Over the past three years, Egypt has developed about 60 new varieties and hybrids of strategic crops, including wheat, corn, rice, oilseeds, and forage crops. The new wheat varieties combine higher yields, disease resistance, and improved climate resilience.

Additional yield gains came from the adoption of modern farming practices across about 2.8 mln acres. The use of laser land leveling, subsoil tillage, and other water-saving technologies increased productivity by nearly 20%, strengthening Egypt’s food security and reducing its dependence on wheat imports.

Tags: Egypt, wheat, crop forecast