DUSHANBE, July 11, 2013, Asia-Plus --The prices of flour and bakery products will remain stable during the holy month of Ramadan, an official source at the State Unitary Enterprise Ghalla (grain products) told Asia-Plus Thursday afternoon. 

According to him, there no any serious reasons for rise in wheat and flour prices, because Tajikistan has enough wheat and flour.  “Besides, this year’s wheat harvest has been good,” the source said.

According to the statistical data from Ghalla, Tajik grain traders have delivered 298,437 tons of wheat and 103,137 tons of wheat four to the country over the first six months of this year.

“Wheat shipments have decreased by 15 percent and flour shipments have decreased by 46 percent as compared to the same period last year, but domestic flour production has increased by 14 percent,” said the source.  “556,758 tons of flour has been produced in Tajikistan in January-June this year.”

Specialists from Ghalla expect wholesales prices for wheat to remain stable during the harvesting campaign.

The current wholesales price for imported wheat flour is some 130.00 somoni (equivalent to some 27.00 USD) per 50-kilogram sack, while the current wholesales price for domestic wheat flour is some 96.00 somoni (equivalent to some 20.00 USD) per 50-kilogram sack.

Average wheat yields in Tajikistan have reportedly increased from 2.5 tons/ha in 2012 to 3.5 tons/ha this year.

Over the first six months of this year, Tajik farmers have produced 383,351 tons of wheat, which is 20 percent more than in the same period last year.

Tajikistan’s annual requirements in cereals are now 1.5 million tons.  Kazakhstan provides the bulk of Tajikistan’s grain imports.  Every year, Tajikistan imports 500,000-600,000 tons of wheat from Kazakhstan.