The six landlocked countries of Central Asia form an integrated and largely self-sufficient wheat economy. About 26 million tons of food grains are produced and consumed by the combined population of 108 million. While all countries grow wheat as a main crop, Kazakhstan is the only surplus producer. The other five are net importers, all, to varying degrees, dependent on spring wheat from the Kazakh steppes as their main staple food. For many years, Kazakhstan has been ranked as one of the top wheat flour exporters in the world, with Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Tajikistan the biggest markets in that order. However, over the last decade the milling industries in these countries have evolved rapidly thanks to new investments spurred by economic reforms. The main result was less flour, but more wheat sent from Kazakhstan to its neighbors, as domestic mills meet the demand, especially among the urban population. on the vast farms of its northern region contiguous with Russia's wheat ...
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