Egypt’s wheat production hits 11M tonnes as farmland expands to 10.5M feddans
Wheat cultivation covered approximately 3.7 million feddans, reflecting the government’s continued focus on expanding the production of strategic crops and reducing dependence on imports.
EGYPT – Egypt’s domestic wheat production reached 11 million tonnes in 2026, while the country’s total agricultural land expanded to 10.5 million feddans, reflecting continued government efforts to strengthen food security, increase agricultural productivity and reduce dependence on imported commodities.
Agriculture and Land Reclamation Minister Alaa Farouk announced the figures while presenting the ministry’s food security strategy before the Egyptian Senate.
He said the expansion of cultivated land and improvements in crop productivity were central to the country’s agricultural development programme, which seeks to increase domestic supplies of strategic food commodities.
According to the minister, the area planted with wheat reached approximately 3.7 million feddans in 2026, with average productivity rising to 20 ardebs per feddan.
The country’s total cropped area, accounting for multiple cropping seasons, also increased to 17.5 million feddans.
The government has supported wheat production through improved seed varieties, agricultural research, mechanisation and financial incentives to encourage farmers to expand cultivation.
The procurement price was raised to EGP 2,500 per ardeb for the 2026 season, providing farmers with an incentive to supply locally produced wheat to government procurement agencies.
Research and crop improvement have also contributed to the production gains.
Farouk noted that agricultural researchers had developed 77 new varieties of field crops and 51 vegetable varieties, targeting higher yields, improved climate resilience and more efficient use of agricultural resources.
Beyond wheat, Egypt recorded growth in other strategic crops, with sugar beet production reaching 17 million tonnes and potato output totalling 10 million tonnes.
The developments form part of a broader strategy built around expanding cultivated areas, improving agricultural productivity, developing livestock and fisheries, strengthening agricultural exports and modernising extension services through digital technologies.
The expansion of agricultural land from approximately nine million feddans in 2014 to 10.5 million feddans in 2026 has been supported by land reclamation initiatives and investments in modern irrigation infrastructure.
The government is targeting more than 12 million feddans of cultivated land by 2030.
Agricultural exports have also strengthened, reaching 9.5 million tonnes in 2026 and accessing approximately 160 international markets.
Their value stood at around US$11.5 billion in 2025, highlighting the growing importance of agriculture to Egypt’s economy.
Despite the production increase, Egypt remains a major wheat importer, with domestic output insufficient to meet national consumption requirements.
Continued investment in agricultural land development, high-yielding seed varieties, water-efficient irrigation and grain storage infrastructure will therefore remain essential to improving self-sufficiency and strengthening the country’s food supply chains.
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