Unprecedented grain harvest since 1950

Kazakhstan is facing problems harvesting, storing and selling its grain, Agriculture Minister Assylzhan Mamytbekov told at the sitting of Nur Otan fraction September 20, Bnews.kz reports. “This year average grain yield stands at 16 metric centners a hectare, with the figure reaching over 30 centners in some northern regions. Kazakhstan has not seen such a harvest since 1950. This entails a number of problems related to harvesting and storing (…) However, 75% of grain has been already harvested”, according to Mamytbekov. Tengrinews.kz reported earlier, citing Finance Minister Bolat Zhamishev September 13, that the Government had allocated $34 million in 2011 to subsidize transportation across Russia of 2.5 million tons of export grain. “There are plans to promote Kazakhstan’s grain to international markets [as grain storages are not capable of accommodating the anticipated bumper harvest this year]”, the Minister said at the time. Agriculture Minister Assylzhan Mamytbekov had told a briefing August 17 2011 that grain harvest in Kazakhstan would make up 18.9 million tons. According to the Agriculture Ministry stats, Kazakhstan exported 5.9 million tons of grain in the 2010-2011 marketing year. This figure included grain equivalent of exported flour (2.5 million tons). The grain was traditionally exported to Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan. According to the Government’s web-site, grain harvest in 2010 totaled 12.2 million tons (net weight). Grain harvest of 2009 made up 22.7 million tons (bunker weight).