Kazakhstan Hosts Round Table on Food Security and Agricultural Development

A round table on food security and sustainable agricultural development was held in Astana, Orda.kz reports. 

Representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and agricultural sector experts participated in the discussion.

Vice Minister of Agriculture Yerbol Kenzhekhanuly presented statistics, stating that 2024 will be a breakthrough year for the industry.

The volume of gross agricultural output increased by 13.7%, reaching 8.3 trillion tenge. This growth was achieved due to an increase in production in crop production by 21.1% and livestock production by 3.6%,  the Vice Minister noted.

Yerbol Kenzhekhanuly said that the ministry intends to increase food production by 4.5% this year. To do this, they have developed a comprehensive plan for developing agricultural processing until 2028.

They also want to attract more than two trillion tenge investments in the agricultural sector.

FAO Recommendations

FAO Deputy Director-General Viorel Gutu touched upon the rational use of agricultural resources. He emphasized that Kazakhstan has significant land areas, but their potential is used inefficiently.

Gutsu proposed that Kazakhstan reconsider its approach to agriculture and increase exports:

Overexploitation, wind and water erosion, dust storms and climate change have led to land degradation and reduced soil fertility, said the UN representative.

In addition, FAO recommended focusing on pasture restoration, water-saving technologies, and biodiversity protection.

Another topic was the processing of agricultural products. Gutsu recalled that Kazakhstan remains a "net importer of agricultural products," and most imports are processed products.

A strong export-import policy in the agricultural sector is a necessary basis for activating trade. Kazakhstan exports mainly raw materials, although, according to experts, it can increase the share of finished product exports to 75%, noted Gutsu.

Kazakhstan was also offered to join the global agricultural monitoring system AMIS and develop a brand of national products such as apples.

Original Author: Olga Ibraeva