Heavy rainfalls have affected grain harvest in four regions of Kazakhstan, Informburo.kz reported on September 12.
Farmers in the North Kazakhstan Region (NKR) say half of the grain they sowed rotted and became unusable.
The work of autumn harvesting in the North Kazakhstan Region has been standing idle for already 16 days. Farmers say they cannot collect even 30% of the production from the fields due to incessant rains. The grain gradually begins to deteriorate, according to them.
“Half of the harvest will remain in the ground. We will only collect half. Half will remain in the field. It [grain] will already have a smell and it even not be suitable for livestock feed,” farmers were quoted as saying.
Farmers reportedly claim that they do not know how much effort is now needed to dry the grain if they collect it now. Therefore, they propose to the government to increase the volume of preferential fuel and lubricants and defer payments on loans and leases.
According to farmers, last year at this time they had already completed the autumn harvesting campaign, while this year they didn’t even start work. Many of them have only harvested half of the barley from the fields and the wheat harvest has not yet begun.
Due to increased humidity, the ears of wheat turned black their quality has decreased. Now farmers fear that next year they will be left without seeds altogether.
