Tapped Out (Egypt)

In the 1960s, Egypt was 85 percent self-sufficient in agriculture, and had a surplus balance of payment. Now, we import 70 percent of our wheat, 65 percent of corn, lentils, oil, beans, fish, and butter, with the deficit exceeding $10 billion annually.

The Ministry of Agriculture instituted a reclamation program roughly three years ago to boost fruit and staple levels to build its export capacity. While the effort has been successful, it may be short-lived. The program requires the cultivation of marginal land, higher per-acre environmental damage and more rapid depletion of Egypt
Business Today.com