February 22, 2012

Kazakhstan forecasts sharp decline in 2012 grain yield

Kazakhstan expects to harvest around 13-15 million tonnes of grain in 2012, a sharp decline from a record 27 million tonnes in 2011, Vice Minister Muslim Umiryaev said Tuesday (Feb 21).

"We are forecasting the 2012 grain harvest at an average level of 13 to 15 million tonnes," Umiryayev said. He later specified this level as the average for the last 12 years.

The ministry said in a statement that the total area sown to grain in Kazakhstan was expected to reach 16.3 million hectares in 2012, slightly more than the 16.2 million hectares last year.

Within this total, the area sown to wheat in 2012 would decline to 13.5 million hectares from 13.8 million tonnes last year, the ministry said.