Wednesday, 22 September 2010 - 13 Shawwal 1431 H
Posted by Saudi Gazette
‘Wheat reserves need investments’
By Muhammad Al-Ghamdi


RIYADH – To increase the Kingdom’s wheat reserve from six months to one year would require investments and an increase in the storage capacity, Waleed Al-Khraiji, Director of the Grain Silos and Flour Mills Organization, has said.

Al-Khraiji made the comment in response to the suggestion made by the Shoura Council to increase the reserve to one year in order to deal with any emergencies and pointed out that the storage capacity could reach 10 years of wheat consumption.

Storage silos can store 2.5 million tons of wheat and projects are under way to add 500,000 tons of capacity, he said.

Al-Khraiji lauded the proposal made by the Shoura Council and noted that Kingdom’s storage capacity already exceeds that of several countries, which have stockpiles to cover four months.

In its session on Sunday, the Shoura Council has recommended that the Kingdom should strive to increase its wheat reserves to face any eventuality.

The Shoura Council’s recommendations include studying ways to increase the benefit from bran in a way that achieves the state’s goal to activate the national plan for making concentrated fodder and making the best use of it. – Okaz/SG

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