Kazakhstan has stopped importing lentils as finished grain from Turkey. Moreover, exports have been restored, according to the APK News agency.
According to Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov, lentils are a niche product in the country.
"Previously, we exported them to Turkey as raw materials and imported the same lentils as finished grain at a higher price. Currently, thanks to the launch of lentil processing and packaging facilities, such as Kaizen in the Kostanay region and Garanti Export LLP and Anka Group in the Akmola region, we are meeting domestic market demand and exporting finished products," Saparov said today at a government meeting.
It should be noted that Kazakhstan ranks sixth globally in lentil exports and has great potential for further development, the minister also emphasized.
Overall, this year we harvested a record-breaking pulse crop of 1 million tons, 56% more than the previous year. Furthermore, pulses are excellent precursors, enriching the soil with nitrogen and increasing the yield of subsequent crops.
In this regard, we will continue to diversify our cropping areas.