The authoritarian president of Turkmenistan has shaken up his government after a disappointing grain harvest and has sought to forestall discontent by announcing salary hikes after a spike in bread prices.

President Gurbanbuly Berdymukhamedov fired the agriculture minister for poor performance and rebuked four provincial governors for various shortcomings, state newspaper Neutral Turkmenistan reported Saturday.

Merdan Bayramov, who served as the former Soviet Central Asian nation's agriculture minister from January 2011, was replaced by his deputy, Rejep Bazarov. Other officials in the sector were also replaced.

The wheat harvest this year fell 25 percent short of the 1.6 million ton state target.

Prices for bread at state-run stores increased threefold Friday. The cost of one kilogram of flour also increased twofold to $0.35, which is likely to drive up prices for bread produced in private bakeries.

Staple foodstuffs are heavily subsidized, meaning the cost increase will likely have limited impact on the welfare of all but the very poorest. The long-term guarantee of state subsidies are at the heart of the virtual nonexistence of dissent, however, and hints of an imminent price-liberalizing policy could create ill-will.

In a lengthy Cabinet meeting Friday, Berdymukhamedov was unusually candid and detailed in his criticisms of his isolated country's agricultural industry.

Berdymukhamedov earlier this week had awarded luxury Cadillac SUVs to the government of the northeastern Lebap Province on Afghanistan's border for its particularly prodigious wheat output.

Governors from remaining four regions were severely chastised for failing to do their part, however.

He singled out the western Balkan Province for over-concentrating on cotton and wheat crops, while failing to develop cattle-rearing.

In a possible effort to mitigate concerns over price rises, Berdymukhamedov also announced a 10 percent increase in state salaries starting from next year. Pensions will rise by 15 percent, with retirees in the highest band receiving $260 monthly.

Turkmenistan, an energy-rich nation of 5 million people, has been ruled by Berdymukhamedov since the 2006 death of its eccentric authoritarian leader, Saparmurat Niyazov.

The country's economy is still profoundly state-dominated and Soviet-style production targets remain the norm. Generous subsidies for most basic household requirements, such as electricity and gas, have kept the cost of living extremely low. (AP)

<한글 기사>

대통령, 낮은 곡물수확에 분노 시장 해임

구르반굴리 베르디무하메도프 투르크메니스 탄 대통령이 저조한 곡물수확의 책임을 물어 농업부장관과 지방 시장들을 해임했다고 AP 통신이 7일(현지시간) 보도했다.

통신에 따르면 베르디무하메도프 대통령은 메르단 바이라모프 농업부장관과 4명 의 지방 시장들을 부진한 성과와 무능 등을 이유로 해임했다고 국영 뉴트럴 투르크 메니스탄 신문이 이날 보도했다.

농업부 장관은 레제프 바자로프 차관이 승진 임명됐다.

철권 통치하는 것으로 알려진 베르디무하메도프 대통령은 이번 주초 북부 레바프 주 정부에 많은 밀생산을 한 공로로 고급 캐딜락을 선물했지만 4개 지역  시장들 은 심하게 질책했다.

올해 투르크멘의 밀 수확량은 목표인 160만t보다 25%가 감소한 것으로 알려졌다.

이날 국영 상점의 빵 가격이 3배로 올랐으며 밀가루 1㎏ 가격도 0.35달러(약400 원)로 2배가 인상됐다.

베르디무하메도프 대통령은 물가 인상에 대한 불안을 완화하기 위해 내년부터 국가 급여와 연금을 10%와 15%로 각각 인상한다고 발표했다.

옛 소련에서 독립한 에너지 부국인 투르크 경제는 여전히 국가가 통제하고 있으며 소련 스타일의 생산 목표가 그대로 유지되고 있다.

투르크멘은 전기와 가스 같은 공공요금을 아주 낮게 책정하고 있다.