Kazakhstan has collected 15.9 million tons of grain, including 12.5 million tons of wheat

/IRBIS, Nov.01, 99/ - According to REUTERS, which cites the minister of agriculture Sauat Mynbaev, Kazakhstan are finished harvesting. This year 15.9 million tons of grain were collected, which is twice more than last year's, including 12.5 million tons of wheat. Mynbaev did not inform about net weight of grain, because 5-6 million tons still "lay on threshing-floors". In the past year net weight of grain has made 6.4 million tons at 7.3 million tons of wheat. In the present year, according to the minister, the weather conditions were "ideal", and the productivity was twice above than in 1998 - 14.5 centners per hectare. 12.5 million tons of wheat, 2.3 million tons of barley and 1.1 million tons of other cultures were collected this year. The internal need of Kazakhstan is 7-8 million tons. Mynbaev expects to sell more than 3 million tons to the Russia. Also Kazakhstan will try to more, than usually, in Iran, Uzbekistan and other CIS countries. He has told, that state purchases of grain, which the government does for support of the farmers will also be focused on export, and this volume can make 870,000 tons. The minister added, that the price conditions on the grain market are favorably. Today's wholesale price makes $75-78 per ton at cost prices of $64-65 per ton.