10.11.2025, 20:47
Northern Kazakhstan Farmers to Receive $2M for Sustainable Agriculture Transition: Prodkorporatsiya and UNDP Launch New Project
$2M for Sustainable Agriculture: Prodkorporatsiya and UNDP Launch Project in Northern Kazakhstan
The national grain operator, JSC "NC "Prodkorporatsiya," and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan have launched a large-scale collaboration aimed at fundamentally changing farming practices in Northern Kazakhstan. The parties signed an agreement to implement eco-friendly agrotechnologies and preserve regional ecosystems under the global FOLUR program.
This strategic project is being implemented in close partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan and with financial support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
Under the agreement, the UNDP is allocating a grant worth approximately $2 million USD. These funds have two distinct purposes:
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Scientific Support: Engaging local and international specialists to support the pilot project.
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Cost Reimbursement: Compensating expenses for both Prodkorporatsiya and the farmers participating in the program.
A key element of the partnership will be three-year forward financing for agricultural producers. This mechanism is designed to incentivize farmers to diversify and cultivate specific crops—primarily legumes (including lentils) and perennial grasses (such as alfalfa).
In exchange for the financing, farmers commit to applying modern agrotechnologies, strictly adhering to crop rotation, and actively diversifying their planted areas away from monocultures.
The project will not be limited to financing. It includes conducting in-depth scientific and marketing research. The goal is to identify the most promising crops for Northern Kazakhstan's climatic conditions and, just as importantly, to find optimal export markets for this new agricultural produce. Each farm joining the initiative will receive direct scientific guidance from both Kazakhstani and international scientists.
"By joining the efforts of state institutions and international partners, we aim to strengthen Kazakhstan's food security and support farmers in their transition to environmentally friendly and financially sustainable farming practices," emphasized Katarzyna Wawiernia, UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan.
Significantly, Kazakhstan has become the first country in Central Asia to join this global program.
According to Asylkhan Dzhuvashev, Chairman of the Board of JSC "NC "Prodkorporatsiya," the UNDP's choice of the national operator was deliberate. When considering partners, the UNDP took into account practical experience in financing and supporting agribusiness. "Since Prodkorporatsiya possesses the necessary competencies in managing agricultural production, the decision was made in favor of the national operator," stated Dzhuvashev.
He added that the joint work with UNDP will provide a powerful impetus for diversifying planted areas and introducing entirely new mechanisms to stimulate agribusiness in Kazakhstan.
