.Kyrgyzstan to face shortage of bread wheat this year.

12/8 Tass 210

BISHKEK, August 12 (Itar-Tass) - Kyrgyzstan expects lower bread wheat
production over bad weather conditions in 2010 and the government plans to
take strong measures to ensure the republic's food security.
Experts forecast this year's bread wheat production will reach 870,000
tonnes, while the population's demand is 1.1 million tonnes on the
average, the government's press service said on Thursday.
"In this respect the head of state instructed the Finance Ministry
until August 20 to allocate funds to the State Material Reserves Fund for
additional purchasing 10,000 tonnes of grain for the state reserve," the
source said.
The government also takes measures to reduce the grain exports. The
wheat export duty rate will reach 30 percent of the customs value from
August 15, 2010, till February 10, 2011.
Customs services, financial police and border guards were instructed
to prevent contraband exports of wheat.

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