Concern of Egyptians after the announcement of the cessation of Indian wheat exports
A bread seller in the Old Cairo district in Cairo, Egypt, March 22, 2022. © Amr Nabil/AP
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
New Delhi's announcement of the suspension of its wheat exports caused apprehension among Egyptians since Cairo had reached an agreement with India for the import of 500,000 tonnes.
However, Egypt's supply minister said on Sunday that India's decision only concerns future contracts and that those already signed will be honored.
Advertisement
Read more
To reassure Egyptians, the country's authorities have specified that 240,000 tons of Indian wheat should be shipped within two weeks.
The question of wheat worries the overwhelming majority of Egyptians.
Nearly 75 of the 110 million inhabitants of the Nile Valley are entitled to subsidized bread.
Five loaves per person per day at the unbeatable price of a quarter of a euro cent for a 90 gram cake.
For almost a quarter of Egyptians who, according to official figures, live below the poverty line, this bread is vital, as its name in Egyptian “
aich
” (
life
, in French) suggests.
The urgency of finding another supplier
However, Egypt, which consumes 18 million tonnes of wheat a year, imports nearly half of it.
But Egypt has lost its main suppliers: Russia and Ukraine, which accounted for 80% of imports.
The local wheat harvest will last until the end of the year.
But it will quickly be necessary to find new suppliers.
For the authorities, a shortage of bread is too dangerous.
►Also read: The G7 criticizes India's decision to suspend wheat exports
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_EN
Egypt
Food
Agriculture and Fishing
Raw materials