President Emomali Rahmon, who is also Head of the Government, yesterday held a government session, according to the Tajik president’s official website.
The meeting reportedly focused on issues related to the socioeconomic situation against the backcloth of the complex political and economic situation in the world.
The head of state, in particular, noted that due to the difficult political and economic situation in the world, the financial and economic situation of countries that a trading partners of of Tajikistan has become very unstable.
In this regard, Rahmon instructed relevant ministries and agencies to maintain a stable level of prices for fuels and food products in domestic market in order to meet the needs of the country's population for these types of products.
Rahmon once again pointed to the necessity of organizing timely planting of crops and making two-year food stocks for each family.
Meanwhile, it was noted at the meeting that production of flour has fallen 35 percent in Tajikistan.
The Ministry of Industry and New Technologies and the Association of Importers of Grain and Grain Products were instructed to take adequate measures to organize regular imports of wheat into the country.
As it was reported earlier, Tajikistan over the first five months of this year has imported about 17,000 tons of wheat flour (8.3-percent decrease compared to January-May 2021) and 330,000 of wheat (12.5-percent decrease compared to the same period last year).
Over the reporting period, the price for imported flour has risen 14.6 percent and the price for wheat has risen 10.8 percent.
The price for the imported first grade flour at Dushanbe’s bazaars has risen 35.7 percent over the reporting period. The price for a 50 kilogram sack of the imported first grade flour increased at Dushanbe’s bazaars from 280.00 somonis in January to 380.00 somonis in May.
Kazakhstan provides the bulk of Tajikistan wheat and flour imports. Over the reporting period, Kazakhstan has reportedly accounted for more than 90 percent of Tajikistan wheat and flour.
Current Tajikistan’s annual requirements in wheat flour 1 million – 1.5 million tons.
According to the Tajik Government’s Forecast of Main Macroeconomic Indices, Tajikistan plans to increase wheat imports by 21.4 percent and wheat production by 12 percent within the next three years.
According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), Tajik farmers last year produced 1.577 million tons of cereals, and they plan to produce 1.594 million tons of cereals, including 917,000 tons of wheat, this year.