The previously announced target is part of efforts by Egypt, the world's largest wheat importer, to increase the area used for growing strategic crops and improve food security, said Abbas al-Shennawi, head of services and follow-up at the ministry.

Egypt harvested 8.5 million tonnes of domestic wheat from around 3.16 million feddans last season. Its current planting season began in mid-November.

(Reporting by Momen Saeed Attalah; Writing by Aidan Lewis, editing by; Editing by Louise Heavens)