Read at :
http://www.africanagricultureblog.com/2010/11/egypt-eyes-sudan-for-land-to-grow-wheat.html
Egypt eyes Sudan for land to grow wheat
Egypt has turned to its southern neighbor, Sudan, for use of agricultural land as the world’s largest wheat importer looks to meet domestic food supply needs and quell a rapidly growing population increasingly irate about chronic price increases.
With a summer drought in Russia that propelled world grain prices higher still fresh in the government’s mind, Egyptian officials in September revived a 30-year-old agreement with Sudan that encourages private companies to plant wheat in northern Sudan. The deal brings Egypt into a growing list of Arab nations that have turned to Africa as a new breadbasket.
“We are facing a shortage of agricultural commodities internationally,” said Ayman Abou Hadid, chairman of the state-run Agricultural Research Center. Under the deal, the Egyptian government provides investors with incentives for irrigation and infrastructure, but production is left up to the private companies, he said.
“The government is not going to participate,” said Abou Hadid.
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