Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan remain dependent on cereal imports - FAO

Almaty. January 29. Silkroadnews - The forecast of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) noted that Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan remain dependent on cereal imports, informs the Tajik news agency (TajikTA).
Last year, the volume of grain production in Kyrgyzstan sharply fell, precipitation at a critically low level during the growing season resulted in 18 percent reduction in yields of wheat, maize and barley.
In Tajikistan, the situation was a little better. Cereal production in 2014 remained largely stable compared with the average five-year index 2009-2013.
According to the FAO, in December the price of wheat flour reached record or near-record levels due to currency depreciation in late 2014, as well as due to high internal energy and transport costs.
Households in both countries are very sensitive to price fluctuations and crop yields. Approximately 35% of the population lives below the poverty line and families are forced to spend 60% of their budget on food, the report says.
According to the statistics for the reporting year, Tajikistan imported 774.9 thousand tonnes of wheat worth $231.3 million.