7.5 Million Hectares Lie Idle: “Atameken” Calls for Land Audit

The National Chamber of Entrepreneurs “Atameken” has made an important appeal to regional authorities: to conduct a full audit of all state-owned agricultural lands. The goal is to put up for open electronic auctions not only the plots already reclaimed but also other unused lands. This initiative is intended to give new impetus to the development of the country’s agricultural sector.

Potential for Growth and Development
According to Atameken, such an approach will allow for the most efficient use of the land fund. This, in turn, will expand opportunities for farmers and agribusiness, attract investment, promote the development of the processing industry, create new jobs, and ultimately lead to the growth of rural areas. At the same time, the Chamber emphasizes the importance of preserving lands that rural residents use for livestock grazing and household farming.
Deputy Chairman of the Board of NCE Atameken Nazira Usenova drew attention to a serious problem: 7.5 million hectares of land already seized from unscrupulous owners remain unclaimed. This is a missed opportunity for the development of agriculture, job creation, and strengthening Kazakhstan’s food security.

Digitalization and the President’s Instructions
This initiative is in line with the instructions of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, outlined in his Address to the Nation. The President has set the task of transferring all agricultural land distribution procedures to electronic auctions and enshrining this order in law by the end of 2025. In addition, by mid-2026, all reclaimed lands must be brought into permanent economic circulation.
Digitalization plays a key role in this reform. Regional authorities, together with the Ministry of Digital Development, must ensure the uninterrupted operation of electronic systems, internet access, and user-friendly platforms for farmers to participate in auctions. This will help eliminate technical barriers and simplify applications. The system of satellite monitoring of agricultural lands must also be improved through the use of artificial intelligence. This will make it possible to conduct in-depth soil quality analysis, forecast yields, and monitor the condition of crops.

Protecting Farmers
Atameken stresses that digitalization is a powerful tool, but it requires a responsible approach from government agencies. It is important to avoid failures and not to infringe on the rights of bona fide farmers, so that the innovations do not become an additional burden for them.
The Chamber recalled past problems when the launch of space monitoring led to errors, and farmers were required to keep logbooks. Failure to comply could result in land seizure. After repeated appeals from Atameken, this obligation was canceled.

Domestic companies are also offering their own digital solutions. Chairman of the Council of the Association of Remote Sensing Companies Abzal Zhamalov mentioned the Kazakh agrotech startup LLP “Egistic”. This company has developed a system that allows farmers to receive real-time data on crop condition, soil moisture, and other important indicators through remote sensing.
Atameken urges government agencies to take all nuances into account when implementing the President’s instructions so that the new rules do not become an additional burden for farmers. Proper implementation of land reform can not only bring millions of hectares into circulation but also become the foundation for sustainable growth of the agro-industrial complex.