All Over the Globe

New schemes of grain purchases, locusts� invasion�- the Minister of Agriculture summarises the harvest results

ASTANA, Nov 1

(THE GLOBE)

�Grain will be purchased at the regional level, and only grain producers may sell it,� the Minister of Agriculture announced on Monday in Astana.

According to Sauat Mynbaev, in this year the purchase scheme was changed, and purchase price was corrected. The initial price is US$ 70 per 1 ton, but if grain is qualitative it is planned to add 5% to the price. �This price is the most appropriate for the further export of grain,� Mr. Mynbaev emphasised. He mentioned the priority directions of the grain export (Russia, Uzbekistan and Iran).

Sauat Mynbaev said in this year they had managed to prevent consequences of the locusts� invasion thanks to mechanical measures mainly taken by grain producers. �But a vast area is infected. The situation in the next year will depend on timely provision with chemicals,� he stated. The budget�2000 stipulates about 1.5 billion tenge (640 billion in the last year) to struggle against locusts.

�Despite some difficulties and unfavourable weather the crops have been successfully harvested,� the Minister added.

According to his information, the gross harvest is about 15.9 million tons, the crop capacity is 14.5 metric centners/hectare (this is almost 2 times more than in the previous year.)

Mr. Mynbaev explained such a late competition of the harvesting by an insufficient number of agricultural machines, especially in the main grain regions (northern Kazakhstan, Kostanai, Pavlodar and Akmolinsk region).