DUSHANBE, March 15, 2013, Asia-Plus — Over the first two months of this year, Tajikistan has reportedly reduced its grain and wheat flour imports.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), 107,483.5 tons of wheat has been delivered to Tajikistan over the report period, which was 51,400 tons fewer than in the same period last year.
As far as the wheat flour is concerned, 42,100 tons of wheat flour has been delivered to Tajikistan over same two-month period, which was 59,200 tons fewer than in January-February last year.
“Most likely, the main reason for this reduction is the fact that we imported wheat and wheat flour in the last months of last year twice as much as usual,” an official source at a MoA said.
Despite reduction in wheat imports, production of wheat flour and macaroni has increased in the country. Domestic flour mills have reportedly produced 194,400 tons of wheat flour in January-February this yea, which was 24,400 tons more than in the same period last year. Tajikistan has also produced 1,444 tons of macaroni over the same two-month period, which was 1,126 tons more than in January-February 2012.
Current average price for a 50-kilogram sack of imported wheat flour in Dushanbe’s marketplaces is 151.30 somoni, which is 3.7 percent fewer than last month.
Meanwhile, current average price for a 50-kilogram sack of domestic extra flour is 145.30 somoni, 4.0 percent fewer than in February.
