The Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of Tajikistan (MoINT) has published a list of food products, with which the republic can fully satisfy its internal needs.
“Existing production facilities are able to fully meet the needs of the domestic market in wheat flour, bread, bakery products, dairy products, canned vegetables and fruit, alcohol and soft drinks, and table salt,” a source at a MoINT noted.
Over the first nine months of this year, the share of food industry in the country’s industrial production has reportedly amounted to 18.8 percent.
This production increase has been caused by the 4.5-fold rise in production of compound feed, production of wheat flour – by 100.1 percent, production of dairy products – by 100.3 percent, production of confectionery – by 231.5 percent, production of past by 156.6 percent, production of vegetable oil – by 100 percent, brewing – by 107.0 percent, production of soft drinks – by 135.7 percent, production of cigarettes – 104.7 percent, and production of chicken meat – 130.3 percent.
Over the same nine-month period, Tajikistan has reportedly exported more than US$13.5 million worth of food products, including canned fruits and vegetables, soft drinks, and wheat four.
Bread is the most important basic food product in Tajikistan. Current Tajikistan’s annual requirements in wheat flour are 1.7 million tons.
According to the official statistical data, Tajikistan has imported about 38,000 tons of wheat flour and 693,000 tons of wheat over the first nine months of this year. Compared to the same period last year, flour imports have decreased by 57 percent, while wheat imports have increased by 6.8 percent. .
Over the reporting period, Tajikistan has produced 854,000 tons of wheat, which is 0.9 percent more than in the same period last year.
It means that Tajikistan has taken the path of diversifying the acquisition of raw materials – more than 50 flour mills operating in Tajikistan now purchase grain not only from Kazakhstan but also from domestic producers.
Current price for a 50-kilogram sack of wheat flour fluctuates from 260.00 to 280.00 somonis depending on its grade (1.7-percent increase since the beginning of the year).
According to data from the MoINT, Tajik flour mills’ capacities now allow fully satisfying the internal need for this product and also partially shipping it to foreign markets.
