FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 11/99 - TURKMENISTAN (3 November)

TURKMENISTAN (3 November)

The 1999 grain harvest is officially estimated at a record 1.5 million tonnes, nearly 300 000 tonnes above 1998, including 226 000 tonnes produced by private farmers. The area sown to grains fell to 570 000 hectares but the import of high quality seed and increased use of fertilizer raised yields significantly. Given the difficult foreign exchange situation and the large 1999 harvest, which would be adequate to meet domestic requirements, cereal imports in 1999/2000 are expected to remain very low. The country has introduced excise duties as of 1 October 1999 to protect domestic production. These include duties of 50 percent on imports of flour and pasta and of US$100 on exports of ammonium nitrate fertilizer. The outlook for the cotton harvest is also satisfactory and the target of 1.3 million tonnes could be achieved. Some 550 000 hectares have been planted and yields average 2.4 tonnes per hectare so far.

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