ASTANA (TCA) — Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture has outlined the main tasks for the development of the country’s agro-industrial complex (AIC), the official website of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan reported.
Tasks for 2018
The AIC is facing the task of increasing the labor productivity and export of processed products 2.5-fold. For its implementation, the ministry’s main efforts and resources are concentrated on nine key areas: accessibility of financing for agribusiness entities; availability of markets and export development; effectiveness of state control and supervision; improvement of taxation; science, education and knowledge dissemination; digital innovation of AIC; availability of technology; effective use of water resources; and sustainable management of biological resources.
As part of the AIC digitalization, the emphasis will be placed on the introduction of elements of precision farming and smart farms, from which the greatest effect is expected.
According to preliminary data, cultivated areas of crops in 2018 will amount to more than 21.8 million hectares. Cereals are planned to be located on an area of 14.7 million hectares, including wheat on 11.4 million hectares with a decrease to the level of 2017 by 0.5 million hectares. Oilseeds will be located on an area of about 2.6 million hectares.
Export promotion
The Register of Priority Export Markets and Goods of the AIC that indicates the requirements of the importing countries will be published in April this year, and an information and analytical basis (constantly updated) for the export of agricultural products will be created.
Specific measures will be taken to stimulate production, branding, certification and promotion of domestic organic and halal products to foreign markets.
The AIC Logistics Map will be developed to address transport and logistics issues. Work will be intensified in coordination with the veterinary and phytosanitary requirements of importing countries.
The coordination with Iran of the requirements for beef and live cattle is being finalized, and a veterinary certificate for the export of livestock for slaughter and breeding is being prepared with Saudi Arabia. Negotiations are planned with Israel, Kuwait, Malaysia, Japan, South Korea, and the EU.
The Ministry of Agriculture initiated the introduction of a representative (advisor or attache) on AIC issues in priority countries (China, Iran, France, Italy, Australia and Canada).
Joining the world’s top 5 meat exporters
Implementation of the program to develop the export potential of cattle meat has become the impetus for creating the basis for meat production in the country — an infrastructure has been created to export 60 thousand tons of high-quality beef.
The experience shows that Kazakhstan has real chances to enter the world’s top 5 meat exporters in the near future, based on the model of development of small and medium farms in cooperation with large fattening sites in regional clusters that provide them with the sale of products, the spread of technology, knowledge and access to financing.
