DUSHANBE, January 19, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Tajik agricultural authorities report growth in production of agricultural goods.

Last year’s gross agricultural product from all categories of farms was 9.3914 billion somoni (in current prices) and increased by 6.8 percent (597.6 million somoni) compared to 2009, including crop growing products by 6.4 percent and animal husbandry by 7.7 percent, Deputy Agriculture Minister, Sijouddin Isroilov, announced at a news conference in Dushanbe on January 18.

During 2010, all categories of farms produced 3,000 tons of honey or 300 tons more than in 2009.  Growth was reported practically in all sub-sectors of agriculture, Isroilov said.

On the prices for local farm produce, the deputy minister noted that the farm produce prices had been affected by increasing fuel prices.  Besides, inflation for 2010 stood at 9.8 percent.

“The fact that production of agricultural goods grew does not meat that the farm produce prices must fall, because many other factors also affect the prices,” Isroilov said.

According to the statistical data from the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT), prices rose 16 percent for milk, 29 percent for meat, 30 percent for rice, 50 percent for wheat flour, 18 percent for macaroni, etc.