Kazakhstan to exceed domestic average grain production

Umirzak Shukeev, the vice Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, said that in 2010, grain production will possibly exceed average amounts.

Production volumes will depend on climatic conditions. According to Shukeev, current rainy weather will continue for some period of time, but the minister gave his assurances that grain production will exceed average indices.

Shukeev also announced that the government decided to fund KZT10 billion (US$0.07 billion) from the governmental reserve to subsidise grain transportation to Afghanistan, Iran, China and countries of the Middle Asia.

The government's recent actions will allow the country to resolve problems with grain shipments, including the purchase of five million tonnes of grain on part of the Food Contract Corporation, as well as funding of nearly KZT five billion (US$0.03 billion) for grain transport expenses, Shukeev noted, according to the APK-Inform Information Agency.