Since January the ration allowance for flour at state prices has been reduced in the majority of etraps in Mary velayat.In the etraps of Murgap, Tagtabazar, Yoleten and Bairamali, where two loaves of bread had previously been sold per person, a restriction of 1 load per customer has been introduced.
Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” report that a loaf of bread is sold at 50 tenge.
The state commerce is experiencing considerable problems with regard to regular supply of flour to residents of the province.Store managers and procurement managers of state-run retail outlets located in the etrap consumer associations under the Ministry of Trade manage to obtain 5- to 60 sacks of flour once in 4 to 5 days, which is insufficient to meet the needs of all customers.
In order to avoid conflicts in the queues, shop assistants make alphabet-based waiting lists. Those who fail to purchase groceries come the next day. Due to irregular supply of groceries to the stores, people have to stand in the queue several times.
The police squadrons keep vigil in front of the store as, despite the sale of merchandise according to customer lists, fights between customers are common.
The problem with regard to supplying flour and bread is especially acute in rural areas, especially in agricultural associations of Agzibirlik and Bairach of Yoleten etrap and the farming association of Azatlyk in Tagtabazar etrap.
At the same time, bread and flour supply in the etrap of Turkmengala is better than in other etraps of Mary velayat.Residents assume that the situation depends on the actions undertaken by khyakims.
Flour is available at both in bazaars and privately-owned stores. A sack of flours costs 150 to 200 manats, which is several times more expensive as in state-run retail outlets.
Let us recall that queues for bread again appeared in Ashgabat after the New Year holidays.