The Ministry of Agriculture explained why flour has become more expensive in Tajikistan

The Ministry of Agriculture of Tajikistan explained that the decrease in wheat harvest in Kazakhstan has become the main reason for the rise in flour prices in the country. This was reported by the Khovar agency, citing the ministry.

Photo: Internet

The chief specialist of the Crop Production Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Abdukodir Yatimov, clarified the reason for the rise in flour and wheat prices.

“Tajikistan provides domestic wheat for only 50-60% of the country’s population, while the rest is related to imports,” Yatimov specified.

He noted that more than 90% of wheat and flour are imported into Tajikistan from Kazakhstan and Russia. The decrease in wheat harvest in these countries has become the main reason for the rise in flour prices.

“This year, due to the low amount of precipitation in these countries, the wheat harvest has decreased, which is one of the main factors for the price increase,” Yatimov noted.

“The annual demand for flour in the domestic market is more than 700 thousand tons. From 1 ton of wheat, depending on the variety, between 500 and 900 kilograms of flour is produced,” the specialist clarified.

According to the Khovar agency, “in the consumer markets of the country, entrepreneurs have set the price of flour from 260 to 280 somoni (from 23 to 25 dollars) per bag.”

However, according to a study conducted by AZDA TV at the end of September, it was found that the price of a 50-kilogram bag of first-grade flour in the country’s markets increased from 245 to 330 somoni.

According to official data, the price for a bag of first-grade flour in the markets of Dushanbe ranges from 240 to 255 somoni, but Facebook users claim that the price for a bag of flour has risen to 250–285 somoni in the capital’s markets.

According to users, flour prices vary in different regions of the country. For example, in the Khatlon region, a 50-kilogram bag of flour costs 270-280 somoni, in the Sughd region – 245-280 somoni, in GBAO, where higher prices are observed, – 280-330 somoni, and in the districts of republican subordination – 250-300 somoni.