Egypt planning 200% surge in rice production, says Supply Ministry

Egypt’s Minister of Supply and Internal Trading said that Egypt targets rising rice production by 200 percent compared to its levels last year.

The ministry said on Monday that the ban on exporting rice will continue, in order to secure the needs of the local market.

Egypt faced a rice shortage crisis, which led the minister issuing a decision in August 2016, banning all rice exports.

In June, the head of the rice division in the Egyptian Federation of Industries, Ragab Shehata, said that Egypt has a strategic reserve of rice, sufficient for three months.