DUSHANBE, February 8, 2011, Asia-Plus — The Antimonopoly Agency under the Government of Tajikistan suspects that rise in grain and four prices at the country’s bazaars might be artificial.
Following a sharp flour price hike in Tajikistan’s domestic market, the antimonopoly agency has set up a working group to inspect pricing in domestic grain market.
Ms. Yelena Rahimova, the chairperson of the information and international cooperation department of the Antimonopoly Agency, says the commission aims to prevent unfounded rise in prices of wheat and flour. “If entrepreneurs are implicated in wrongdoing, an appropriate administrative action will be imposed upon them in accordance the country’s antimonopoly legislation,” she noted.
According to her, there are also objective reasons for rise in grain and flour prices in the country. Tajikistan depends on flour imports for 52 percent,” said Rahimova, “The rising cost of wheat and flour in Kazakhstan, which provides the bulk of Tajikistan’s wheat and flour imports, has led to increase in the flour prices in the domestic market of our country. Kazakhstan justifies the decision to raise wheat and flour prices as based on the world market trends.” She added that wheat prices at grain exchanges in the United States have risen 5.2 percent.
The other significant reason for the rise in Kazakh grain prices is an active import demand from markets of Central Asia’s countries and Azerbaijan. “Since Kazakhstan is the only full-fledged grain exporter in Central Asia, the countries of the region are actively purchasing grains in Kazakhstan,” Rahimova said, noting that last year’s global cereal production was low as many grain-producing countries were affected by unfavorable weather conditions.
We will recall that wholesale prices for wheat and flour rose 3.9 percent in early February. The price for a 50-kilogram sack of Kazakh grade I wheat flour at Dushanbe’s bazaars has risen from 120.00 somoni in late January to 130.00-135.00 somoni. In the provinces, current price for a 50-kilogram sack of Kazakh grad 1 wheat flour is 140.00 somoni. Prices for local wheat flour have also risen over the report period
