The government rice policy is aimed at producing new varieties with higher yields, a shorter maturity period and greater insect and disease resistance. The new varieties were used in about 85 percent of the cultivated rice area in the 2000 crop. The government s target is to have the entire area planted with the high yielding, shorter maturity varieties by 2001. The government also recently authorized rough rice exports for the first time, providing an additional boost. Rice is a major summer crop in Egypt, occupying about 10 percent of the country s cultivated area.
Production is concentrated in northern Egypt and is entirely irrigated.
Farmers, however, have exceeded that target due to the higher profitability of rice cultivation compared to other crops. Short grain Japonica varieties account for about 99 percent of the total rice crop in Egypt, as consumers prefer these varieties to long grain Filipino varieties. Farmers also prefer the Japonica varieties because they are more easily milled in local village mills. The target for the upcoming season is to increase this figure to 90 percent.