FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 11/01 - KAZAKHSTAN (3 November)
Grain harvesting is virtually complete and total output is estimated at 16.5 million tonnes compared with 11.6 million tonnes in 2000. Grain production, which is about 5.2 million tonnes higher compared with the average of the past five years, includes 13.5 million tonnes of wheat, 2 million tonnes of barley and 260 000 tonnes of maize. On average, grain yields in 2001 are higher by 366kg per hectare and area sown by 425 000 hectares compared with 2000. Favourable weather conditions and virtually disease-free crops have contributed to higher output this year. However, some reports suggest that less quality wheat might be available due to heavy rains during October.
Kazakhstan is set to export 4.6 million tonnes of cereals during the 2001/02 marketing year (July/June), nearly 4.2 million tonnes of which will be wheat. Last year, the country exported some 4 million tonnes of cereals, mostly wheat. The Government intends to increase the amount of stocks from 1.5 million tonnes in 2000/01 marketing year to about 3.2 million tonnes in 2001/02 marketing year.