Measures of the West Kazakhstan region to stabilize prices for socially important food products

In accordance with the instruction of the Head of State K.K. Tokayev, at the meeting of the Majilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan dated 11.01.2022, in terms of restraining prices for socially important food products (hereinafter - NWPT), the Akimat of the West Kazakhstan region held negotiations with large trading entities regarding increasing product stocks and restraining prices at the level of December 2021.

The price index for the week was 100.5%. There was an increase in prices for potatoes (103.9%), carrots (101.3%) and cabbage (115.4%).

For reference. The main reason for the increase is the increase in prices for sellers in the Russian Federation (potatoes, carrots), Turkey (cabbage) and Tajikistan (cabbage).

1.2 billion tenge is provided for the stabilization of prices for NWT within the framework of the "revolving scheme" mechanism and for the purchase of food products in the stabilization fund. Currently, there is a stock of food products in the amount of 7,551 tons of food, including 904 tons of Grade 1 flour. To date, in the region, the price of bread made from flour of the 1st grade is 80 tenge per loaf. Additionally, it is planned to provide loans to stabilize the prices of buckwheat, rice, horns, salt and white sugar.

In addition, 550 million tenge is planned to be allocated for the formation of a stabilization fund by concluding forward contracts in order to stabilize prices for vegetable products (potatoes - 4000 tons, carrots - 500 tons, cabbage – 500 tons, onions – 400 tons) in the off-season period.

At the same time, in order to ensure food security, a stock of food wheat and sunflower seeds has been created to stabilize prices for flour and bread of the 1st grade, pasta and vegetable oil.

These measures will provide socially vulnerable groups of the region's population (170 thousand people) at an affordable price, basic food products until the new harvest.

A number of operational measures are also being taken to curb prices for socially important food products. Exactly:

a monitoring group has been formed in the regional center and in the districts, which conduct daily monitoring of prices for food products;
A call center has been created to prevent unjustified facts of price increases for socially significant goods. Since the beginning of work
call centers received a total of 169 calls (126 of them for the prices of "shops at home") about the rise in food prices. As part of the consideration of the appeal of business entities, explanatory work is being carried out to prevent the excess of the trade mark-up on the NWPT by 15%;
according to consumer requests, control functions are carried out in relation to business entities that are not related to small businesses. So in January, 1 administrative violation was detected and a warning was imposed. 1 inspection has been opened regarding the increase in prices for dairy products.
Work is also being carried out in other areas that may provoke price increases for food products. In particular, explanatory work has been carried out with trade markets to prevent unjustified facts of increasing rent payments. As a result of this work, the management of the markets decided to cancel the planned rent increases.