Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin held a meeting on the issue of stabilizing prices for socially significant food products (SSF).
According to the National Statistics Bureau, in January this year, the annual inflation rate in Kazakhstan amounted to 8.9%. The price dynamics were influenced by non-food goods and paid services. The annual growth rate of non-food goods increased by 8.4%, and the price of services increased by 13.8%.
According to Aizhan Bizhanova, First Vice Minister of Trade and Integration, the SSF price index increased by 0.3% over the past week, and by 2.2% since the beginning of the year. This is due to the seasonal increase in the price of vegetables (cabbage, carrots, onions). An increase in the price of beef (1.2%) and sunflower oil (1.1%) was also recorded. From the beginning of the year to February 11, the highest growth was observed in Ulytau (4.8%), Aktobe (3.8%) and East Kazakhstan (2.7%) regions.
In order to regulate prices, the release of products from stabilization stocks in the regions continues. According to Vice Minister of Agriculture Yerbol Taszhurekov, only 45.4 thousand tons of vegetables were sold out of the total 156.9 thousand tons of stocks. In some regions, the pace of vegetable sales is below the established volume, which leads to an increase in prices. For example, in Abay region, only 486 tons of potatoes out of 2.8 thousand tons were sold, as a result of which prices increased by 24.2%. A similar situation is observed in some regions with regard to the prices of carrots, cabbage and onions.
He also said that according to akimats, at the end of January, excluding stocks in subsidiary farms, potato stocks amounted to 327 thousand tons. Meanwhile, from January 23 to February 14, the population's consumption amounted to 73.5 thousand tons.
“Excluding private households, the stock of 253.5 thousand tons of potatoes will allow us to fully cover the domestic needs of the population until the early ripening crop of 2025 is received,” said Yerbol Taszhurekov.
Serik Zhumangarin drew the attention of the meeting participants to the need to accelerate measures aimed at stabilizing food prices. The main goal is to promptly release products from stabilization stocks and hold weekly fairs in regions and megacities.
“In order to avoid price fluctuations and any restrictions on sales, it is necessary to eliminate the difference in product prices at stabilization points. It is also necessary to work closely with municipal markets and trade networks. It is necessary to ensure the sale of products from stabilization stocks in February-March and the delivery of fresh vegetables in April. "These are the main tasks that the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Trade and Integration will solve together with the regions to maintain the stability of social food prices in the off-season period," Serik Zhumangarin concluded.
Source: https://primeminister.kz/news/kokonis-koryn-paydalanu-zhane-apta-sayyngy-zharmenkeler-serik-zhumangarin-aleumettik-manyzy-bar-azyk-tulik-bagasyn-turaktandyru-boyynsha-zhinalys-otkizdi-29700

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mti/press/news/details/939933