harvest - The Times Of Central Asia

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Agriculture

Kazakhstan Harvests Record Grain and Oilseed Crop

Kazakhstan has reported a record harvest for 2025, collecting over 27 million tons of grain and 4.5 million tons of oilseeds for the first time, according to Deputy Minister of Agriculture Azat Sultanov. The Ministry of Agriculture said the grain harvest reached 27.1 million tons in initial weight, including 20.3 million tons of wheat, an increase of 0.5 million tons compared to last year, despite a reduction in wheat acreage by nearly 900,000 hectares. Of the soft wheat delivered to elevators, 53% was graded 1-3, slightly lower than the 56% recorded in 2024. Class 4 wheat accounted for 35%, up from 28% a year earlier. “More than half of this volume has a gluten content above 20%, which allows this wheat to be used for food purposes,” Sultanov noted. Around 12% of the harvest consisted of unclassified wheat, which will be used for animal feed and fodder production, sectors where demand is growing, particularly in neighboring countries. For the first time, the volume of legumes reached one million tons, while a new record was set for oilseeds at 4.5 million tons, with harvesting still underway in several regions. The country also produced 2.9 million tons of potatoes, 3.8 million tons of vegetables, and 2.6 million tons of melons and gourds. Harvesting of oilseeds, grain corn, and sugar beets is nearing completion. “The agricultural season that has just ended showed steady growth in production. For the second year in a row, Kazakhstan has demonstrated positive dynamics thanks to the use of modern technologies and crop diversification. The harvest took place at the optimal time, and no serious problems arose,” Sultanov emphasized. Between September and October, Kazakhstan exported 2.2 million tons of grain from the new harvest, 21% more than in the same period last year. During the previous marketing season (September 2024 to August 2025), exports totalled 13.4 million tons, a 47% year-on-year increase. Sultanov confirmed the government’s intention to maintain the current export potential. “In 2024, some experts doubted that it would be possible to reach 12 million tons, but in fact, the plan was exceeded. This year, Kazakhstan is developing new export destinations, deliveries have begun to Belgium, Portugal, Poland, Norway, Vietnam, the UAE, Morocco, Algeria, and Egypt, while exports to Iran, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia have resumed. Demand for Kazakh grain remains stable, with export potential estimated at 13 million tons,” Sultanov said. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has set a target of increasing Kazakhstan’s grain exports to China to 2 million tons annually.

Cotton

Tajik Cotton Farming in Crisis: Why Production Is Falling and What the Government Is Doing About It

Tajikistan’s cotton industry is facing a deepening crisis. Production has plummeted, costs have outstripped prices, and a lack of qualified specialists is further straining the sector’s viability. Once a cornerstone of the national economy, cotton is becoming increasingly unprofitable for farmers, prompting government efforts to reverse the decline. Harvest and Export Decline Over the past two years, cotton production has dropped dramatically. The 2022 harvest totaled 404,700 tons, but by 2024 this figure had fallen nearly 40% to 253,200 tons. Cotton fiber processing also decreased, from 127,100 tons in 2022 to 106,900 tons in 2024. This contraction has impacted exports. In 2024, Tajikistan exported 100,500 tons of fiber worth $170.1 million, $28.5 million less than the previous year. The average export price fell to $1,692 per ton. Iran remains the primary buyer, accounting for 68% of Tajik cotton exports. Other destinations include Turkey (15%), China (8.4%), Russia (4.4%), Pakistan (3%), Georgia (1%), Bangladesh (0.2%), and Latvia (0.1%). Strategic Resource Under Pressure On August 26, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade hosted a meeting of the Interdepartmental Headquarters for Macroeconomic Policy. First Deputy Minister Ashurboy Solehzoda reaffirmed that cotton cultivation and processing remain “strategic directions” for the country. He emphasized the crop's importance not only for economic stability but also for maintaining Tajikistan’s export potential. However, authorities acknowledge that without modernization and deeper processing, the country risks losing its position in the global cotton market. What’s Behind the Decline? Multiple factors have contributed to the sector’s downturn in 2025. Abnormal spring rainfall delayed sowing by 65 days, shifting ripening schedules and reducing overall crop quality. Summer heatwaves and premature irrigation by farmers led to widespread root rot, compounding losses. Economic factors have also played a key role. The average purchase price for cotton remains at 6-7 somoni per kilogram, while production costs range from 7-8 somoni, making cultivation unprofitable and discouraging continued investment by farmers. A severe shortage of qualified personnel is another critical issue. Approximately 200,000 farms lack agronomists, and many textile enterprises struggle to find staff trained to operate modern machinery. The cost of electricity further burdens the sector, accounting for up to 15% of cotton yarn production costs. Processors receive no seasonal discounts to mitigate expenses. Additionally, limited access to affordable credit has prevented enterprises from upgrading equipment or expanding capacity. Government Response The government has introduced a set of tariff and non-tariff incentives aimed at stimulating processing and expanding textile production. However, experts argue that these measures are underutilized and have yet to make a meaningful impact on domestic supply or budget revenues.

Grain

Kazakhstan Reports Record Grain Harvest of 26.7 Million Tons in 2024

Kazakhstan harvested 26.7 million tons of grain in 2024, marking its largest grain yield in 13 years, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. The latest figures, published on January 29, slightly revise the previously reported total of 26.5 million tons, gathered from 16.7 million hectares of farmland. Kazakhstan is the largest grain producer and exporter in Central Asia, annually shipping 8 to 9 million tons of grain abroad, including 6.5 to 7.5 million tons of wheat. In 2024, exports reached 8.1 million tons. For the 2025 season, Kazakhstan aims to export approximately 12 million tons of newly harvested grain. While traditional markets such as Central Asia, Afghanistan, China, Turkey, and Italy remain key destinations, Kazakhstan is also expanding into Azerbaijan, Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia, Brazil, and Malaysia. Kazakhstan has already begun exporting grain from the new harvest, with 3.7 million tons shipped between September and December 25, 2024 - a 54% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

Agriculture

Kazakhstan’s New Harvest Grain Exports Surge by 54%

Between September and December 25, 2024, Kazakhstan exported 3.7 million tons of grain from its new harvest - a dramatic 54% increase compared to the same period in 2023, when 2.4 million tons were exported. The announcement was made by Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture, citing data from Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the national railways company responsible for grain transportation. Significant increases were reported across the traditional markets for Kazakh grain: Uzbekistan: Exports grew by 44%, rising from 994,000 tons to 1.427 million tons. Tajikistan: Exports increased by 53%, from 385,000 tons to 589,000 tons. Afghanistan: Exports surged by 52%, from 120,000 tons to 182,000 tons. Kyrgyzstan: Exports rose by 22%, from 59,000 tons to 72,000 tons. Iran has emerged as a highly promising new market. Exports to Iran (via the Caspian port of Aktau) soared by a staggering 30.2 times, from just 14,000 tons to 435,000 tons. Kazakhstan harvested over 26.5 million tons of grain from 16.7 million hectares in 2024, as previously reported by The Times of Central Asia. The country plans to export approximately 12 million tons of the new harvest to both traditional markets - Central Asia and Afghanistan - and new ones, including Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia, Brazil, and Malaysia. China is also seen as a key growth market. In 2023, Kazakhstan exported 1.43 million tons of cereals to China - a 5.5-fold increase from the previous year. Kazakhstan’s grain export surge underscores the country’s growing role as a major supplier to both regional and global markets, bolstered by strong demand and strategic diversification efforts.

Agriculture

Kazakhstan Begins Export of New Harvest Grain

Kazakhstan has begun exporting grain from the new harvest, which totaled 26.6 million tons this year, 56% higher than in 2023. In September-October, Kazakhstan’s national railway company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), transported 1.8 million tons of grain for export, 48% more than in the same period last year (1.2 million tons). During the two months, grain exports to Uzbekistan amounted to 738,000 tons (49% more than in September-October 2023), and 298,000 tons were shipped to Tajikistan (a 48% increase). Increasing grain exports were also reported to China, Afghanistan, Iran, and Kyrgyzstan. The Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture expects a significant increase in grain exports in the first half of 2025. According to KTZ, Afghanistan is ready to import about 200,000 tons of Kazakh grain, which will be transported via Turkmenistan. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Kazakhstan plans to export about 12 million tons of the new harvest grain to traditional markets—Central Asia and Afghanistan—and new ones, such as Pakistan, Indonesia, Brazil, and Malaysia. Uzbekistan remains the primary importer of Kazakh grain, followed by Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, and China.

Justice

Turkmenistan Continues to Hide Forced Labor in Cotton Fields

Although the season has yet to officially open, cotton harvesting is already underway in Turkmenistan. As reported by Azatlyk correspondents, workers, including budgetary employees in the Lebap province, are being watched by Ministry of National Security (MNS) officers. These officers, tasked with preventing information about forced labor being leaked, have forbidden the use of cell phones in the fields. Turkmenistan has long been criticized for its use of forced labor on cotton plantations, and authorities continue to hide the reality. The increased control by security agencies coincides with a briefing in Ashgabat on measures discussed in collaboration with the International Labor Organization (ILO), to eradicate child and forced labor. Despite official bans, including an order issued by Labor Minister Muhammetseyit Sylabov in July this year prohibiting the employment of children under 18, child labor continues in some regions, including Kerki and Chardjev etraps, and teachers confirm that high school students, with their parents' consent, participate in cotton picking. At the same time, cotton pickers complain about underpayment. Employers also repeatedly renege on promised rates of pay and in Lebap, citing the poor quality of the cotton harvested, are known to withhold up to 50% of their workers' salaries, leading to inevitable conflict. Despite orders issued by the authorities to increase pickers' wages in accordance with the state's procurement prices for cotton, the workers' situation shows no sign of improving.