Announced the purchase of grain for the State Grain Fund

The State Agency for Material Resources (SAMR) under the Ministry of Emergency Situations announced today the purchase of high quality wheat for the State Grain Fund (SGF). The specific amounts are not reported, although it is known that local farmers cannot meet the requirements of SGF, because they are too high.

The Fund has met its needs through imports at all purchase prices for almost four years. This year farmers are offered to sell wheat at 230 manat per ton. Proposals will be accepted until September 1. Wheat is received by two elevators, as well as selected private mills in Baku and regions of the country.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture on the 2nd of July, there were collected 1,584.5 thousand tons of cereals, 24.1% more than during the comparable period in 2011. The share of wheat accounts for 940 thousand tons. The yield of grain per hectare is 26.4 quintals, 2.2 quintals more than last year, and the yield of wheat is 27.1 quintals (+2.4 quintals). This year, grain crops were sown on 986.6 thousand hectares of land, which is 4.4% more than in 2011. The Ministry of Agriculture forecasts grain production at 2.7 million tons. The need of the country for grain crops is estimated at 3.6 million tons. -08B-