September 7, 2010

Kyrgyzstan's domestic grain demand to total 1.2 million tonnes

Domestic demand for grains in Kyrgyzstan totals 1.2 million tonnes and the country's grain production is expected to reach 860,000 tonnes.

Babyrbek Jeenbekov, the Director of the State agency for antimonopoly regulation of Kyrgyzstan, is sure that grain shortage is not an issue for the country.

In the current year, the grain harvesting campaign is showing normal rates, and according to data of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Kyrgyz Republic, the country will harvest 860,000 tonnes of the crop. The country will import grains from Kazakhstan to cover domestic needs. 

Meanwhile, according to economist Jumakadyr Akeneev, in the current winter, Kyrgyzstan will face a food crisis. Akeneev noted that the country has 200,000 ha of non-sowed areas in the current year. Also, in the South of Kyrgyzstan wheat yield decreased by 5.5 c/ha due to the unfavourable weather conditions.

At the same time, flour prices increased in Kyrgyzstan. According to Chynybai Tursunbekov, the General Director of the flour-milling enterprise "Akun", flour prices increase in Kyrgyzstan is directly connected to the grain deficit in Kazakhstan.