Freezing temperatures hurt crops in Kazakhstan

Severe frosts in the end of February 2011 hurt winter crops in several areas in the south and west of Kazakhstan, Tengrinews.kz correspondent reports referring to Kazgidromet weather service. According to the weathermen, February frosts hurt 10% of winter wheat in Arussk region of South Kazakhstan Oblast. Up to 20% of winter wheat froze in Ryskulov region of Zhambyl Oblast and 21-50% of winter wheat froze in Baizak and Zhualin regions of Zhambyl Oblast. “Amid the unfavorable weather conditions in Western Kazakhstan Oblast average day temperatures went down to minus 20-25 degrees Centigrade reaching minus 30-35 degrees Centigrade at times. Since snow mantle is unevenly spread over the areas these severe temperatures could cause freezing of winter crops,” Kazgidromet report reads.