Egypt, the world's biggest grain importer, plans to take measures to cut back on bread consumption and increase domestic grain production following Russia's embargo on grain exports, the country's agriculture minister said on Monday.
"Egypt will follow a strategy of reducing bread consumption and increasing [grain] production," Amin Abaza said, adding that the country plans to produce 70-75 percent of its domestic grain consumption needs.
To achieve this, the country plans to increase productivity in old cultivated areas and irrigate new fields.
The government will also attempt to cut back on grain losses during transportation and storage and encourage the use of corn flour in bread production. The use of bread as cattle feed may also face a ban.
Some 90 percent of Egyptians consume bread made from flour that is subsidized by the government, and 60 percent, mainly poor families with numerous mouths to feed, rely on it as a main food source.
Russia imposed a ban on the export of grain, including wheat, barley, rye and maize, from August 15 until at least the end of the year, following a drought and wildfires that have destroyed 10.8 million hectares of crops. Forecasts for this year's harvest have fallen as low as 60 million tons, 38% less than last year.
Before the start of the Russian embargo, 50 percent of the country's grain exports went to Egypt. As Russian grain exports are relatively cheap, Egypt faces a loss of up to $700 million if it is to depend on imports from the United States and Western Europe.
The increase in staple food prices in Egypt has led to mass protests in the past. In 2008, the government was forced to ban some exports and remove import duties on some food products.
CAIRO, August 16 (RIA Novosti)
