Kazakhstan's grain production may be 54% smaller after drought
10:17, 16 November 2012
ASTANA. November 16. KAZINFORM Kazakhstan's grain crop may be 54 percent smaller than last year because of drought, the Agriculture Ministry said.
Production may be 12.3 million metric tons, after drying and cleaning, from a record 26.9 million tons last year, the ministry said in a statement today. Grain was harvested from 15.1 million hectares (39 million acres), with the yield falling to an average 980 kilograms (0.98 ton) a hectare from 1,530 kilograms last year, it said, Kazinform refers to Bloomberg.
Exports may be 7 million to 8 million tons, Muslim Umiryayev, deputy agriculture minister, told reporters on Tuesday.