Tajikistan has increased wheat and flour imports over the first six months of this year, Muhammadsaid Faizullozoda, the head of the Food Safety Committee under the Government of Tajikistan, told reporters in Dushanbe on July 28.
According to him, more than 439,000 tons of wheat has been imported into the country over the first six months year, which is 83,500 tons more than in the same period last year.
Over the same six-month period, Tajikistan has reportedly imported more than 30,000 tons of wheat flour, which is 5,600 tons more than in January-June last year.
Rice and potato imports have reportedly also increased in January-June this year.
“Over the reporting period, 15,300 tons of rice has been imported into the country, which is 5,900 tons more than in the same period last year,” Faizullozoda said.
In January-June this year, Tajikistan has reportedly imported more than 25,700 tons of potatoes, which is 13,300 tons more than in the same period last year.
Local exports said increasing import of these agricultural products has resulted from rising demand of the population for them.
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Tajikistan this year has planted cereals on the area of more than 392,000 hectares, which is 1,800 hectares more than last year.
Over the first six months of this year, Tajik farmers have reportedly 705,200 of cereals, including wheat, rice and corn, which is 2.5 percent more than in the same period last year.
This year, Tajik farmers have planted potatoes on the area of more than 58,500 hectares. However, over the first six months of this year, Tajik farmers have reportedly harvested potatoes 0.4 percent less compared to the same period last year.
According to the forecasts of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT), all categories of farms will harvest 1.6 millions of cereals, including 975,000 tons of wheat, and 1.1 million of potatoes.
