Last year's and early vegetables: the commodity balance of the provision of the country's regions was discussed in the government

Last year's and early vegetables: the commodity balance of the provision of the country's regions was discussed in the government

The price situation for the week and the availability of socially significant food products in the regions of the country were discussed on Saturday at a weekly meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Trade and Integration Serik Zhumangarin.

Last week, prices for socially important food products increased by 0.2%. A low seasonal increase in prices for vegetables – cabbage, onions, carrots, potatoes - continues. There was an increase in rice and beef. Prices for bread, chicken, butter, milk, kefir, salt and cottage cheese are stable. 

In addition, the price of buckwheat continues to decline for the third month in a row. Prices for eggs, flour, sugar and cones have decreased over the week.

Separately, we analyzed the situation with the continuing rise in rice prices. During the week, the average growth in the country was 0.7%, by region the highest index was in Ulytau, Karaganda, Almaty and Turkestan regions. According to the Akimat of the Kyzylorda region, a reserve of 6 thousand tons of product has been prepared for today at a price of 380 tenge. 7 regions purchased 1,021 tons of rice from producers of the Kyzylorda region. The Deputy Prime Minister instructed the Ministry of Trade, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, to hold a meeting with the country's rice growers in the near future to identify the causes of price increases and current business problems.

Vice Minister of Agriculture Yerbol Taszhurekov reported on the availability of stocks of last year's harvest in the off-season and the results of the early harvest. According to the data provided, potato stocks in the republic amount to 107.6 thousand tons with the population's needs of 40.7 thousand tons by the end of May, and 101.7 thousand tons by the end of June. Thus, the overall balance for this vegetable in the country for May-June is secured, and regions with a potato balance below the required level need to negotiate with supplies from other regions. There are contracts for the supply of early vegetables from the southern regions in May for 1.3 thousand. tons (Zhambyl region, Zhetisu region, Shymkent), in June by 5.6 thousand tons (Zhetisu region, Aktobe region, Zhambyl region and Shymkent). Contracts for the supply of imported potatoes totaling 12.4 thousand tons (West Kazakhstan region, East Kazakhstan region, Aktobe region, Almaty and Astana).

Since the first decade of May, early potatoes have been harvested in the Turkestan region in the amount of 5.8 thousand tons. In June, a gross harvest of 109.5 thousand tons is expected, in July – 108.8 thousand tons. In addition, in the Almaty region, it is planned to harvest early potatoes by 37.8 thousand tons, in June – by 3.5 thousand tons, in July – by 34.3 thousand tons.  

Stocks of carrots from last year's harvest are also available within the required security. There are contracts for the supply of imported carrots in the amount of 2.9 thousand tons (Zhambyl, West Kazakhstan region, East Kazakhstan region, Aktobe region, Almaty, Shymkent and Astana). The gross harvest of early carrots in the Turkestan region is expected to amount to 30.3 thousand tons, of which in June – 980 tons, in July – 29.3 thousand tons. 

The situation is different for onions and cabbage. If in May the level of last year's stocks of these vegetables in the country is within the required security, then in June it is no longer enough. Contracts for the supply of imported onions amount to 4.5 thousand tons. In June-July, early onions are expected to be harvested in the Zhambyl and Turkestan regions in the amount of 161.2 thousand tons, which will cover the needs of the population before the autumn harvest. 

Early cabbage has been harvested in the Turkestan region since April. Currently, 68.7 thousand tons have been collected, 125 thousand tons are expected to be collected by the end of July. According to Yerbol Taszhurekov, it is possible to meet the demand of the domestic market at the expense of early cabbage from the Turkestan region.

Following the meeting, Serik Zhumangarin instructed to check the availability and quality of last year's harvest, as well as hold a meeting with vegetable suppliers and stabilization funds to clarify the need for early vegetables.