Chekirbaev noted that during the Soviet period, the country's self-sufficiency in grain reached 60-80%, but the situation has changed, and imports now account for a significant share of production.
According to him, cereal crops are currently less profitable compared to other agricultural crops. The main areas allocated for cereals are primarily used for growing fodder crops, such as barley, which is linked to the active development of livestock and poultry farming in the country.
Additionally, he pointed out the challenges Kyrgyzstan faces in competing with Kazakhstan and Russia in terms of grain quality. "Our grain lags behind Kazakh and Russian grain in terms of gluten content and hardness, which raises interest among buyers. Therefore, it is important to focus on the development of seed production and improving state mechanisms for purchasing food wheat," Chekirbaev added.
He also emphasized that the Ministry is actively working on measures aimed at increasing the share of domestic grain production, but achieving these goals requires comprehensive support from the state.
