DUSHANBE, November 1, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- State-owned grain growing farms have reportedly completed the grain harvesting campaign.

This year, the state-owned farms have yielded 514,300 tons of wheat, which is 77,200 tons more than last year, an official source at the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) told Asia-Plus in an interview.

According to him, the private grain growing farms are expected to complete the grain harvesting campaign next week.  Specialists from a MoA expect private grain farms to yield more than 300,000 tons of wheat this year.       

Average wheat wields have increased substantially as compared to 2011.  “Average grain yields in Tajikistan increased from 2.14 tons/ha in 2011 to 2.44 tons/ha this year,” said the source.  “Average wheat yields have also increased by 300 kilograms – from 2.22 tons/ha in 2011 to 2.52 tons/ha.”

Tajik grain growers reportedly plan to increase wheat yields next year.  “Next year, we will plant wheat mainly on irrigated areas in order to get no less than 5 tons per hectare,” said the source.  “It’s quite possible if high-yielding varieties of wheat are used.”

Last year, Tajik farmers produced more than one million tons of cereals, including 435,000 tons of wheat.  In 2010, Tajikistan produced 1.2 million tons of cereals, including 547,000 tons of wheat.

Current price for a 50-kilogram of domestic grade1 wheat flour at Dushanbe’s bazaars is 156.00 somoni, which is 30 percent higher than last year, meanwhile, current price for a 50-kilogram of imported grade1 wheat flour at Dushanbe’s bazaars is up to 175.00 somoni.

Flour prices have been rising steadily in Tajikistan since summer.  According to data from the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MoEDT), the price for a 50-kiloram sack of imported grade I wheat flour rose at Dushanbe’s bazaars from 105.00 somoni in June to 140.00 somoni in August.  Local experts say the price for a 50-kilogram sack of wheat flour can rise to 180.00 somoni in the coming months.

Tajikistan’s annual requirements in wheat are 1.5 million tons.  Kazakhstan and Russia provide the bulk of Tajikistan’s grain imports.