WHEAT CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION IN CENTRAL ASIA
Wheat is by far the dominant staple in the Central Asia region (Figure 1). On average, per capita wheat consumption is 143 kg/year, with consumption in Afghanistan slightly above the regional average (Figure 2).
In the lower income countries of Afghanistan and Tajikistan, wheat consumption constitutes 66 percent and 49 percent of calories of the local diets, respectively (FAO 2016a). Given this dependence on wheat in the region, monitoring production and intraregional trade of wheat is important for understanding regional food availability and access.
Other important staple crops include potatoes, rice, and maize.The largest wheat producers in the region are Pakistan, Kazakhstan, and Iran. Together they comprise nearly 80 percent of the total regional production (Figure 3). The smallest producers are Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Afghanistan. Only Kazakhstan and Pakistan are net wheat exporters.
Iran imports both wheat grain and flour and exports small amounts of wheat flour (Figure 1).Wheat is grown intensively in a few areas in the region. More than 80 percent of total wheat production in Kazakhstan is grown in the northern regions of Kostanay, Akmola, and North Kazakhstan in (Chabot and Tondel 2011). The major production area in Pakistan is the Punjab province where more than three-fourths of Pakistani wheat is produced (Chabot and Tondel 2011). In Iran, the major wheat producing areas are the northeastern provinces of North Khorasan, Razavi Khorasan, and South, and the south central province of Fars (USDA FAS 2008).