FAO/GIEWS - Foodcrops & Shortages 09/01 - KAZAKHSTAN (6 September)

KAZAKHSTAN (6 September)

Harvesting is progressing well and FAO tentatively estimates the 2001 grains at 11.7 million tonnes from about 12.4 million hectares (2000: 11.6 million tonnes). Wheat production is expected to reach 9.2 million tonnes, about 109 000 tonnes higher than last year, while coarse grain output of 2.3 million tonnes is similar to last year’s estimates. Heavy rains in June and early July in the North, where 80 percent of the grains are grown, adversely affected yields.

Locusts, which had affected about 65 000 hectares of cropland in the Kustanay region, has had limited impact on crops this year. Crop disease and weather conditions, however, are still feared to impact crops and compromise the forecast output.

Cereal exports are expected to total about 4.65 million tonnes this year. Russian import demand due to better crops this year is expected to be low, while demands from the Central Asian CIS will remain high in the face of drought and low production.