Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT843
2009-07-07 02:04:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
THE OUTLOOK FOR TURKMENISTAN'S 2009 WHEAT
how-toVZCZCXRO7054 PP RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHNEH RUEHPW RUEHROV RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHAH #0843/01 1880204 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 070204Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3094 INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHAK/AMEMBASSY ANKARA PRIORITY 5397 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 3125 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 2990 RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL PRIORITY 3641 RHMCSUU/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHRC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHRC/USDA WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000843
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
ANKARA FOR AGRICULTURE COUNSELOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON PGOV SOCI TX
SUBJECT: THE OUTLOOK FOR TURKMENISTAN'S 2009 WHEAT
HARVEST
REFS: A) ASHGABAT 47; B) ASHGABAT 788
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ASHGABAT 000843
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
ANKARA FOR AGRICULTURE COUNSELOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON PGOV SOCI TX
SUBJECT: THE OUTLOOK FOR TURKMENISTAN'S 2009 WHEAT
HARVEST
REFS: A) ASHGABAT 47; B) ASHGABAT 788
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public
Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The wheat harvest in Turkmenistan is in
full swing. Provincial governments expect to report
their final production figures by the end of July. As in
the past two years, the government has not released
official statistics on the harvest. Unofficial reports
suggest that yields were better than last year's due to
better weather conditions, increased inputs and less
interference on the part of state officials. The wheat
harvest is expected to be completed by the end of July,
with the nation-wide celebration of the Wheat Holiday
during the last weekend of July. END SUMMARY.
FARMERS REPORT BETTER YIELDS
3. (SBU) According to Pol/Econ local staff's contacts
from farming communities, yields are better this year due
to a wet, rainy spring and better monetary incentives.
To stimulate better production, in January 2009 President
Berdimuhamedov increased state prices paid to farmers for
wheat from $56 to $70 per ton (Ref A). Official reports
claimed that the government increased inputs for wheat
production by purchasing more pesticides and herbicides,
providing better quality seed, cleaning existing
irrigation canals and building new ones. A farmer from
Serdar District of Balkan Province confirmed that the
government built a new feeder canal to resolve the
shortage of irrigation water in Serdar district. This
contact also said that the government provided better
quality seed of Kazakhstani varieties.
FARMERS FEEL LESS PRESSURE FROM THE GOVERNMENT
4. (SBU) Some farmers reported that, compared with the
Niyazov era, now they feel less pressure from state
officials on issues such as the deadline for starting the
harvest. (NOTE: In the past, President Niyazov
personally set the deadline for the start of the harvest
and required that despite different climatic conditions,
all five provinces start the harvest on that date.
This practice resulted in harvesting immature wheat that
then rotted in the grain elevators. END NOTE.) Local
observers claimed that this year, President
Berdimuhamedov abandoned late President Niyazov's
practice of personally controlling the harvest and made
Deputy Chairman for Agriculture Myratgeldi Akmammedov
responsible for the harvest. Also, Berdimuhamedov
delegated Niyazov's practice of blessing the harvest by
cutting the first stalks of wheat for the Elders' Council.
TURKMENISTAN'S WHEAT SELF-SUFFICIENCY DOUBTFUL
5. (SBU) Government media have not released official
statistics on the harvest. Instead, it has posted
success stories about farmers who achieved high yields.
According to Minister of Agriculture Esenmurad
Orazgeldiyev, the country's annual demand is 1,600,000
tons. During a June 22 meeting with The Charge, Deputy Chairman
Akmammedov claimed that "Turkmenistan is one hundred
percent self-sufficient and that the
country does not import any wheat, due to efficient
fertilizers, technology, and modern methods" (Ref B).
However, local sources suggest that Turkmenistan needs
2,500,000 tons of wheat to meet the demand of its
population for bread. In 2008, domestic production was
ASHGABAT 00000843 002 OF 002
estimated to be below 1,000,000 tons, and Turkmenistan
imported flour from Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: Less government interference in the
harvest demonstrates that President Berdimuhamedov is
taking steps to implement his words "to make farmers real
owners of land." However, full implementation would mean
a rejection of central command management, including the
policy of state orders and fixed prices, and offering
land to farmers for private ownership. So far, the
government does not appear willing to take these steps.
END COMMENT.
MILES
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/CEN, EEB
ANKARA FOR AGRICULTURE COUNSELOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAGR ECON PGOV SOCI TX
SUBJECT: THE OUTLOOK FOR TURKMENISTAN'S 2009 WHEAT
HARVEST
REFS: A) ASHGABAT 47; B) ASHGABAT 788
1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public
Internet.
2. (SBU) SUMMARY: The wheat harvest in Turkmenistan is in
full swing. Provincial governments expect to report
their final production figures by the end of July. As in
the past two years, the government has not released
official statistics on the harvest. Unofficial reports
suggest that yields were better than last year's due to
better weather conditions, increased inputs and less
interference on the part of state officials. The wheat
harvest is expected to be completed by the end of July,
with the nation-wide celebration of the Wheat Holiday
during the last weekend of July. END SUMMARY.
FARMERS REPORT BETTER YIELDS
3. (SBU) According to Pol/Econ local staff's contacts
from farming communities, yields are better this year due
to a wet, rainy spring and better monetary incentives.
To stimulate better production, in January 2009 President
Berdimuhamedov increased state prices paid to farmers for
wheat from $56 to $70 per ton (Ref A). Official reports
claimed that the government increased inputs for wheat
production by purchasing more pesticides and herbicides,
providing better quality seed, cleaning existing
irrigation canals and building new ones. A farmer from
Serdar District of Balkan Province confirmed that the
government built a new feeder canal to resolve the
shortage of irrigation water in Serdar district. This
contact also said that the government provided better
quality seed of Kazakhstani varieties.
FARMERS FEEL LESS PRESSURE FROM THE GOVERNMENT
4. (SBU) Some farmers reported that, compared with the
Niyazov era, now they feel less pressure from state
officials on issues such as the deadline for starting the
harvest. (NOTE: In the past, President Niyazov
personally set the deadline for the start of the harvest
and required that despite different climatic conditions,
all five provinces start the harvest on that date.
This practice resulted in harvesting immature wheat that
then rotted in the grain elevators. END NOTE.) Local
observers claimed that this year, President
Berdimuhamedov abandoned late President Niyazov's
practice of personally controlling the harvest and made
Deputy Chairman for Agriculture Myratgeldi Akmammedov
responsible for the harvest. Also, Berdimuhamedov
delegated Niyazov's practice of blessing the harvest by
cutting the first stalks of wheat for the Elders' Council.
TURKMENISTAN'S WHEAT SELF-SUFFICIENCY DOUBTFUL
5. (SBU) Government media have not released official
statistics on the harvest. Instead, it has posted
success stories about farmers who achieved high yields.
According to Minister of Agriculture Esenmurad
Orazgeldiyev, the country's annual demand is 1,600,000
tons. During a June 22 meeting with The Charge, Deputy Chairman
Akmammedov claimed that "Turkmenistan is one hundred
percent self-sufficient and that the
country does not import any wheat, due to efficient
fertilizers, technology, and modern methods" (Ref B).
However, local sources suggest that Turkmenistan needs
2,500,000 tons of wheat to meet the demand of its
population for bread. In 2008, domestic production was
ASHGABAT 00000843 002 OF 002
estimated to be below 1,000,000 tons, and Turkmenistan
imported flour from Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan.
6. (SBU) COMMENT: Less government interference in the
harvest demonstrates that President Berdimuhamedov is
taking steps to implement his words "to make farmers real
owners of land." However, full implementation would mean
a rejection of central command management, including the
policy of state orders and fixed prices, and offering
land to farmers for private ownership. So far, the
government does not appear willing to take these steps.
END COMMENT.
MILES