According to Junushov, for a long time it was believed that it was easier for Kyrgyzstan to depend on the import of grain and flour due to its membership in the EAEU and established logistics schemes.
“Many thought it was simpler to import wheat in large batches than to cultivate our limited land resources. Some even suggested using the land for more profitable crops and just buying wheat,” he noted.
Junushov also pointed out that in 2016-2017, representatives of the sector repeatedly sought government support, but their proposals went unheard.
“We were told that there was no point in growing wheat if it could be bought in Kazakhstan,” he added.
The situation changed with the onset of the pandemic, according to the head of the Association.
“When the borders closed for 2-3 months, we were left without raw materials and finished products. The market was flooded with imports, and the price of first-grade flour rose from 22 to 40 soms — almost doubled,” Junushov reported.
He stated that this crisis highlighted that every country primarily cares about its food security and can close its borders in emergency situations to ensure the well-being of its population.
“The pandemic showed that minimum reserves must always be maintained, as the demand for food is constant,” he added.
Junushov also emphasized that the development of domestic grain production is important from the perspective of agronomic technologies.
“For high-margin crops like sugar beets, crop rotation is essential. During these periods, farmers can grow wheat if they are assured that we will purchase the harvest and provide assistance in its cultivation,” he explained.
He added that processing enterprises are currently operating in almost every region of the country, except for the Talas region, where smuggling and cheap imports have made production uncompetitive.
“Previously, up to 90% of unaccounted flour passed through Talas, which led to the ruin of local mills,” Junushov noted.
Nevertheless, the situation in the region is changing.
“A modern bakery has been launched in Talas with government support through cluster financing. At the moment, we are supplying it with flour from the Chui region, but in the future, we plan to organize wheat processing on-site,” he said.
The head of the Association of Millers emphasized that the development of domestic grain production and processing is a key aspect of the country's food security.
