The Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture is collaborating with the German Pari Research institute in developing new citrus hybrids in an attempt to boost Egypt’s fruit production, reported Al-Ahram.
Egyptian citrus output for the year 2001 presently stands at 2.4 million tons, confirmed Deputy Prime Minister Youssef Walli. The country devotes 35 percent of its orchards to citrus cultivation, equal to 350,000 dunums of land.
Egypt remains one of the few active exporters of oranges in the world with the Navel and Valencia varieties being the top sellers. Orange production accounts for 70 percent of the total citrus production in Egypt. The harvest season lasts from late fall through early spring. Orange cultivation is concentrated in two large regions, the Delta and the newly reclaimed desert lands.
Total Egyptian exports in the agricultural season 1998/1999 amounted to 215,000 tons. Egyptian exporters to the European Union are limited to a small quota under the free trade agreement. — (menareport.com)
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
