Egypt to plant Basmati Rice to reduce importation

CAIRO - 22 August 2021: Egypt will start cultivating basmati rice to put it on the market next year, said the director of the Field Crops Research Institute at the Ministry of Agriculture Alaa Khalil on Saturday evening.

 

In media remarks to "Al-Masry Effendi" talk show on "Al-Mehwar" T.V., Khalil said scientists have managed to produce other varieties that consume less water while maintaining productivity.

 

The old varieties of rice used to consume 7,000 to 8,000 cubic meters of water per feddan, while the new varieties consume 5,000 cubic meters, he added.

 

Egypt imports basmati rice from Asian countries, with more than $100 million, said Hamdi Mawafi, an expert at the Field Crops Research Institute in media remarks to El-Aard website in September 2020.