FEATURE Egyptian government’s role in wheat by David McKee State organizations account for more than half of the incoming volumes in the world’s number one wheat importing country T he Egyptian state has a long history of collecting and distributing grain. Beginning with the earliest dynasties 5,000 years ago, farmers paid one-fifth of their output as tax. The Bible recounts how Joseph, after a dream, advised the pharaoh to hold in reserve a part of seven bountiful harvests against the seven lean years that would follow. Today, Egypt’s government still plays a central role, especially when it comes to wheat, accounting for over half of the incoming volumes in the world’s number one wheat importing country. A large share of the domestic wheat crop is bought by public bodies as well. A generous subsidy on bread is the main reason for these purchases. Up to 8 million tonnes of wheat and half a million tonnes of corn are baked into loaves of traditional “baladi” bread from 82% extraction flour blended with corn flour. By some estimates Workers in an Egyptian balady bread bakery. Photos courtesy of U.S. Wheat Associates. 26 March 2013 / World Grain / www.World-Grain.comhttp://www.World-Grain.com