Ismet Abbasov: "Bread price hike is mainly caused by the spread rumors about the so-called possible grain deficit in Azerbaijan"

The due announcement was made by Azerbaijan's Minister of Agriculture Ismet Abbasov.

He noted that on the whole 800,000-860,000 hectares of lands have been sown and this year the grain crop is predicted to be 2,600,000 tons. He said the annual demand of the country makes up 3,200,000 tons of grain.

"The statements about expected deficit of grain in the country this year are groundless. In 2007 the grain remainders made 760,000 tons. Import totaled 366,000 tons through four months of 2008", said he.

At the same time, the Minister noted that grain import from Kazakhstan has been renewed and moreover, several private companies are engaged in grain import from Ukraine.

"There are companies, which import flour from Russia and Azerbaijan has lifted VAT on flour import", said the Minister.

Abbasov said touching upon the causes of the bread price hike on the background of sufficient grain reserves in the country that the Ministry, he leads, does not deal with the price policy and these are private entrepreneurs who increase prices. He said the main reason of price hike is the spread rumor about the so-called possible deficit of grain.

/Day.Az/