• KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28530 -0.14%
19 February 2025

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 661

Kazakhstan to Establish Healthy Seed Center to Boost Crop Yields

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture has announced plans to establish a Healthy Seed Center aimed at reducing plant diseases and increasing crop productivity. The center will be created in 2026 at the Zhiembaev Kazakh Research Institute of Plant Protection and Quarantine and will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology and staffed by highly qualified specialists. Its primary goal is to combat pathogens that threaten crop yields and environmental safety. The new center will collaborate with seed farms across Kazakhstan, analyzing seed samples from various crops. A key objective of the project is to increase the share of domestically produced seeds to 80% by 2030. Experts emphasize that improving seed quality is crucial in preventing plant diseases, as up to 70% of crop infections are transmitted through seeds. The center is expected to boost crop yields by at least 40%. As Central Asia’s leading agricultural producer and exporter, Kazakhstan plays a key role in the regional supply of grain, wheat, and oilseeds. In 2025, the country plans to cultivate 23.8 million hectares, an increase of 518,000 hectares compared to 2024, reflecting ongoing efforts to expand agricultural production.

Kazakhstan to Diversify Agricultural Crops for Higher Yields and Increased Profits

Kazakhstan will continue diversifying its agricultural crop areas this year as part of efforts to double gross agricultural output, Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov announced at a government meeting on February 11, focused on preparations for the upcoming sowing season. According to Saparov, Kazakhstan plans to sow crops on 23.8 million hectares in 2025, an increase of 518,000 hectares compared to 2024. The crop diversification program will cover approximately 1 million hectares, while the area dedicated to highly profitable crops will expand by 750,000 hectares. The area under oilseed crops will increase by 365,000 hectares, reaching 3.3 million hectares, including a 50,600-hectare expansion for sunflower cultivation, bringing it to 1.3 million hectares. Potato cultivation will grow by 14,900 hectares to reach 136,800 hectares, while buckwheat fields will expand by 41,500 hectares, bringing the total to 147,000 hectares. The sugar beet planting area will increase to 18,400 hectares, and forage crops will expand by 184,000 hectares, reaching 3.4 million hectares. Cotton will be sown on 135,200 hectares, while rice will cover 90,200 hectares. Kazakhstan will also continue to reduce its reliance on wheat monoculture. In 2025, grain crops will be sown on 16.6 million hectares, slightly down from 16.7 million hectares in 2024. Over the past two years, wheat cultivation has been reduced by nearly 730,000 hectares, including 159,000 hectares this year. According to Saparov, diversification will help mitigate risks associated with price fluctuations in agricultural markets. Oilseeds and legumes remain in high demand both domestically and internationally, with consistently strong prices. While the average price of wheat stands at 65,000 - 70,000 KZT per ton, export-oriented crops such as flax and rapeseed can fetch 200,000 KZT per ton or more. Beyond economic benefits, crop diversification contributes to soil health. Saparov highlighted that legumes, in particular, help enrich the soil with nitrogen, improving the yield of subsequent crops. This approach not only increases profitability but also enhances environmental sustainability.

Rosenberg King Prawns to Be Bred in Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan’s Elin Balyk fish farm is expanding its operations by introducing the breeding of Rosenberg freshwater king prawns. Located in the Ak Bugday district of Ahal province, on the Karakum River, Elin Balyk has been engaged in fish farming for over a decade. The farm operates on a 130-hectare site, granted for free use for 99 years. It features 20 ponds covering a total area of 400 square meters, along with six indoor rearing facilities that house shrimp and fish at various growth stages - from larvae and fry to mature commercial stock and breeding specimens. A newly launched hatchery, equipped with technology from Russia, Iran, and Europe, enhances production capabilities. The facility employs modern aquaculture methods, including a closed water circulation system that limits water loss to just 10%. The intensive fish farming process avoids antibiotics and chemicals while ensuring optimal oxygenation levels. As part of its diversification efforts, Elin Balyk has begun breeding Rosenberg freshwater shrimp, a species native to Thailand. These prawns can grow up to 100 grams in weight, with body lengths comparable to an adult’s palm. Looking ahead, the company plans to introduce Vannamei shrimp, a saltwater species, and has trained its specialists in Iran and Thailand to master the necessary aquaculture techniques. An additional land plot is expected to be allocated for this expansion.

Kyrgyzstan Aims to Develop Organic Agriculture

As Kyrgyzstan seeks to expand the production and export of environmentally friendly organic agricultural products, the country’s Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry has drafted a Program for the Development of Organic Production in the Kyrgyz Republic for 2025-2029. The document has been submitted for public discussion. The program aims to create favorable legal, economic, and social conditions for organic producers through state support. Kyrgyzstan has natural advantages for developing organic agriculture, including a clean ecosystem, ecologically unpolluted soils and water in mountainous and foothill regions, traditional farming methods with minimal agrochemical use, rich biodiversity, and strong export potential. According to the ministry, Kyrgyzstan currently has 63,000 hectares of certified organic farmland, accounting for 5.25% of the country’s total arable land. By 2029, this area is expected to triple to 200,000 hectares. The program also seeks to increase organic production to 25% of total agricultural output and raise the share of organic exports to 25% of total agricultural exports. To achieve these goals, the program proposes several key measures: Pilot Project: Transition the Issyk-Kul and Naryn regions to fully organic farming methods. Public Awareness Campaign: Conduct a large-scale information campaign on the benefits of organic production. Infrastructure Development: Improve processing and logistics for organic exports. Certification Standards: Establish laboratories for organic product certification. Research and Innovation: Conduct scientific research and introduce advanced organic farming technologies. If successfully implemented, the initiative could strengthen Kyrgyzstan’s position as a leading producer of organic agricultural products in the region.

Kyrgyzstan to Export Agricultural Products to China

On February 6, in Beijing, Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry, Bakyt Torobayev, and China’s Head of the General Administration of Customs, Sun Meijun, signed protocols allowing the export of Kyrgyz agricultural products to China. The approved goods include beans, wool, cashmere, poultry meat, and offal. Torobayev emphasized that these agreements represent an important step forward in strengthening trade and economic ties between Kyrgyzstan and China. According to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry, trade turnover between the two countries nearly tripled from 2019 to 2023, reaching $5.433 billion - a 31.6% increase from 2022. In January-November 2024, bilateral trade continued to grow, rising by 6.9%. The Kyrgyz minister expressed optimism about the early signing of additional export protocols for dried fruits, fresh fruits, vegetables, berries, raw cattle hides, and heat-treated meat. "We are confident that these goods will be in demand in the Chinese market," he stated. To facilitate trade, Torobayev proposed establishing a Chinese certification body’s representative office in Kyrgyzstan to simplify the certification process for Kyrgyz exports to China. During his visit to Beijing, Torobayev also met with Jilin Teyan Biotechnology Co., Ltd., a Chinese manufacturer of veterinary vaccines, to discuss the supply of vaccines to Kyrgyzstan. The company expressed interest in building a vaccine production plant in Kyrgyzstan to manufacture treatments for cattle and poultry diseases. These discussions took place as part of Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov’s state visit to China from February 4 to 7. During a meeting on February 5, Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China’s commitment to expanding economic, trade, and investment cooperation with Kyrgyzstan and expressed China’s willingness to import more high-quality agricultural products from the country.

Kyrgyzstan Considers Potato Export Ban

Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry is considering a temporary ban on potato exports to prevent unjustified price increases. On February 1, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry Bakyt Torobayev instructed the Antimonopoly Regulation Service and local authorities to closely monitor food prices. Government Efforts to Stabilize Prices Speaking on Birinchi Radio, Torobayev noted that on February 3, the wholesale price of potatoes in Osh, the country’s second-largest city, had reached 60 KGS (about $0.68) per kilogram. However, after government intervention, prices stabilized at 49 KGS (about $0.56) by the evening of the same day. In the capital, Bishkek, retail potato prices currently range from 55 to 58 KGS (about $0.65) per kilogram. Torobayev assured that Kyrgyzstan has sufficient potato reserves, with farmers storing supplies while intermediaries inflate market prices - at times reaching 75 KGS per kilogram. Potential Export Ban and Market Outlook The government is now considering restricting potato exports. Torobayev urged farmers to sell their produce rather than wait for higher prices, warning that an early spring could lead to an earlier-than-usual harvest, potentially affecting market rates. Kyrgyzstan’s move follows a similar decision in neighboring Kazakhstan, where The Times of Central Asia previously reported that rising potato prices prompted authorities to impose a six-month restriction on exports to non-Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries.