In 2017, wheat harvest in Kyrgyzstan reached 665 thousand tons.
Thanks to this, the flour reserves in the republic should last until spring 2018. This was stated by the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Food Industry, and Melioration Erkinbek Choduev during a press conference.
“We are confident that food security regarding flour, which is one of the main staple products, will be ensured,” the official emphasized.
It is noteworthy that earlier media reported that Kazakhstan sharply reduced wheat supplies to neighboring Kyrgyzstan due to a shortage of self-unloading grain wagons. Currently, Kyrgyz buyers are receiving only 20% - 30% of already paid orders.
According to official data, in 2016, Kazakhstan supplied over 27 thousand tons of flour to Kyrgyzstan. This accounts for only about 1% of the total volume of Kazakhstan's flour exports.
In September 2017, the Kyrgyz government imposed a ban on the sale of unfortified flour from Kazakhstan within the republic. And since the end of October, the Kyrgyz side has prohibited the export and use of unfortified flour from Kazakhstan. Violators face a fine of 50 thousand soms.
It should also be noted that earlier Kyrgyz businessmen repeatedly complained that after Kyrgyzstan joined the EEU, the import of cheaper Kazakh flour significantly increased, leading to a decline in production at local milling enterprises.
Additionally, Kyrgyz millers often mix imported grain with locally grown grain during flour production, as the latter has a very low gluten level. For this reason, local flour is less in demand among Kyrgyz consumers and poorly competes with flour produced in Russia and Kazakhstan.
Kyrgyzstan has harvested nearly 1.5 million tons of potatoes, reports the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Industry, and Melioration of the republic.
According to the agency, a total of 247.9 thousand tons of melons and gourds, and 911 thousand tons of vegetable crops, and 1 million 760 thousand tons of grains have been harvested in the republic, including 665 thousand tons of wheat and 647 thousand tons of sugar beets.