Kazakhstan announces its grain harvest figures

This year’s grain harvest in Kazakhstan is estimated at 17 million tons, a Tengrinews.kz journalist reports, citing Saktash Khasenov, Chairman of the Committee for State Supervision in the country’s Agriculture Ministry.

“With the domestic demand for grain standing at around 6 million tons, the export potential is around 7 million tons”, he told a briefing.

He elaborated that “due to inclement weather conditions the harvesting campaign has been suspended for the recent 2-3 days (…) Aktyubinsk, Zhambyl, West Kazakhstan, South Kazakhstan oblasts have completed their harvesting campaigns. East Kazakhstan, Karaganda oblasts are nearly done. In the major grain-producing Kostanai, North Kazakhstan and Akmolinsk oblasts, harvesting is in full swing”, Saktash Khasenov said.

According to him, given the combine harvester fleet, fuel supplies, grain elevator capabilities and drying facilities, harvesting can be completed within the following 2 weeks. With the yield being 1.2 metric centner lower than that of 2013, the grain is of a higher quality.

“Out of the entire grain supplied to grain elevators only 1.7 million tons are grain of the 3rd grade. It’s a good indicator. The inclement weather conditions raise some concerns. However, there have been more difficult years”, he said.

In 2013 Kazakhstan harvested 18.9 million tons of grain. In 2012 Kazakhstan’s grain harvest amounted to 14.7 million tonnes. According to the State Agency for Statistics, grain production in Kazakhstan in 2011 totaled 26.9 million tons (net weight), with exports potential standing at 15 million tons.