Grain losses in Kazakhstan total 60-70 thousand tonnes

In 2009, grain losses in Kazakhstan totalled nearly 60-70 thousand tonnes, said Akylbek Kurishbaev, the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

According to A. Kurishbaev, in the current year 2010, the country provided preparation works for the spring field works according to the adjustments of the head of the state, the sowing campaign is conducted in the planned conditions without any essential troubles. The Minister remarked that grain sowing areas in Kazakhstan will total 22 million hectares.

To date, Kazakhstan sowed grains throughout 4.5 million hectares, an increase of 500 thousand hectares compared to the same period of the previous year, explained A. Kurishbaev. Southern regions of the country have almost completed the sowing campaign.

Last year in 2009, grain production in Kazakhstan totalled 22.7 million tonnes in bunker weight, and 20 million tonnes in clean weight. Grain export potential from Kazakhstan is estimated at the level of 12.5-13 million tonnes.