KAZAKHSTAN (9 February)
Latest satellite imagery and other reports show favourable weather conditions and good precipitation, which will provide sufficient soil moisture for spring crops and protective snow cover for winter cereals. Spring cereals are the most important crops in the country’s cropping calendar, winter cereals account for a mere 5 percent of the aggregate area planted with cereals. Last year Kazakhstan harvested a total of 12.6 million tonnes of cereals, which was some 3 million tonnes down on the harvest in 2003 and 1.7 million tonnes down on the five-year average production level. Last year’s harvest included some 9.9 million tonnes of wheat, 1.6 million tonnes of barley and 475 000 tonnes of maize. The main reasons for the low harvest last year were relatively adverse weather conditions and lower than average wheat prices.
Aggregate cereal exports during 2004/05 marketing year are forecast at about 4.8 million tonnes compared with nearly 5.9 million tonnes during the 2003/04 marketing year. Wheat is, by far, the most important crop in the country both in terms of production and exports.