ASTANA. 18.01.2010. KAZINFORM /Damir Baimanov/ Gross agricultural output in Kazakhstan rose by 13.8% in 2009, Kazinform has learnt from Minister of Agriculture Akhylbek Kurishbayev who has said at a meeting of the board in Astana today. "Last year, the volume of gross agricultural output grew by 13.8% and this is the highest index compared to last eight years", he said. "In 2003 the share of flour in grain export was 10.6%, while in 2009 this figure reached 2.2 mln tons or 3 mln tons in grain equivalent. Thus, we have confirmed our firm positions as a global leader in flour export", the Minister noted. According to him, special attention was given to timely and qualitative performance of budgetary programs and full utilization of the funds allocated for them. By the results of 2009, the Ministry utilized 99.4% of the funds allotted for the budgetary programs implementation.