During a government meeting on March 26, Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov unveiled plans to reduce wheat and rice cultivation areas and expand the cultivation of other crops in response to the challenging natural and climatic conditions of 2023 affecting farmers financially.
Saparov highlighted the need for diversification in crop production, citing weak diversification in plant growing as a hindrance to the intensive development of agriculture. The Ministry's analysis revealed systemic issues, with a planned decrease in wheat cultivation areas by 429.2 thousand hectares compared to the previous year.
The reduced fields will be reallocated to increase the cultivation of socially significant and high-profit crops. This includes a significant increase in oilseed crop areas by 385.7 thousand hectares, aiming to reach a total cultivation area of 3.2 million hectares. Additionally, the cultivation areas of sugar beets are set to increase by 12 thousand hectares, totaling 25 thousand hectares in 2024.
To establish a strong feed base in the regions, the plan involves expanding fodder crop areas by 68.3 thousand hectares to reach 3.2 million hectares. In response to government directives and challenges in providing farmers with irrigation water during the growing season, the Ministry is working on reducing water-intensive crop areas.
Furthermore, a reduction in cotton and rice cultivation areas is projected for the current year to address water scarcity issues. However, the planned cultivation areas for grains, vegetables, and potatoes are expected to meet the domestic market's needs.
In a statement on January 18, Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin emphasized the importance for Kazakhstan to focus on selling value-added products rather than raw materials and grains. The country's shift towards diversification in agriculture aims to enhance productivity and economic stability in the sector.
