DUSHANBE, October 22, 2012, Asia-Plus — State-run farming units have produced 624,400 tons of grains over the first nine months of this year, which is 113,000 tons more than last year, an official source at the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) told Asia-Plus in an interview Monday afternoon.
According to him, a totaled included 506,100 tons of wheat, 68,600 tons more than last year. Average wheat wields have increased substantially as compared to 2011. “Average grain yields in Tajikistan increased from 2.14 tons/ha in 2011 to 2.44 tons/ha this year,” said the source. “Average wheat yields have also increased by 300 kilograms – from 2.22 tons/ha in 2011 to 2.52 tons/ha.”
A grain harvesting campaign is going on in Tajikistan.
Last year, Tajik farmers produced more than one million tons of cereals, including 435,000 tons of wheat. In 2010, Tajikistan produced 1.2 million tons of cereals, including 547,000 tons of wheat.
Specialists from a MoA expect Tajik farmers to produce 800,000 tons of wheat this year.
Current price for a 50-kilogram of domestic grade1 wheat flour at Dushanbe’s bazaars is 156.00 somoni, which is 30 percent higher than last year, meanwhile, current price for a 50-kilogram of imported grade1 wheat flour at Dushanbe’s bazaars is up to 175.00 somoni.
Flour prices have been rising steadily in Tajikistan since summer. According to data from the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT), the price for a 50-kiloram sack of imported grade I wheat flour rose at Dushanbe’s bazaars from 105.00 somoni in June to 140.00 somoni in August. Local experts say the price for a 50-kilogram sack of wheat flour can rise to 180.00 somoni in the coming months.
Tajikistan’s annual requirements in wheat are 1.5 million tons. Tajikistan itself can meet only 20 percent of its annual requirements in wheat while the remainder is delivered from Kazakhstan (95 percent) and Russia (5 percent).
