The government has purchased 1.8 mn tonnes of local wheat from local farmers since the wheat harvest season kicked off last month, paying out EGP 6 bn so far, says Supply Minister Aly El Mosely. The ministry has reached almost half of its target of 4 mn tonnes for this season, El Moselhy added. The government is planning to increase its reliance on imported, rather than locally produced, wheat for subsidized bread production, with plans to import 7 mn tonnes of wheat at an average cost of USD 220 mn per tonne during FY2018-19.

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