04.06.2025, 10:59
KAZAKH INVEST and Harvest Group Launch a Major Project to Convert Pastures into Irrigated Farmland
Major Agribusiness Project: 300,000 ha of Pastures to Become Irrigated Fields
One of Kazakhstan's largest investment initiatives in the agricultural sector is underway with the launch of an agro-industrial cluster based on Harvest Agro Holding LLP, part of the international Harvest Group SA (Switzerland). Supported by KAZAKH INVEST, the project aims to develop large-scale irrigated agriculture through the use of groundwater and modern water-saving technologies.
In the initial phase, 150,000 hectares of pasture and distant grazing lands will be transformed into irrigated farmland, with a long-term goal of expanding this area to 300,000 hectares. The project will cover seven regions of Kazakhstan: Zhambyl, Almaty, Zhetysu, Turkestan, Pavlodar, Kyzylorda, and East Kazakhstan.
Initial investments are estimated at USD 500 million. The focus will be on cultivating high-value fodder and export-oriented crops, particularly corn and soybeans.
The project is expected to significantly contribute to Kazakhstan’s national objective of increasing irrigated land to 2.5 million hectares by 2030. Anticipated outcomes include:
• Bringing up to 300,000 hectares of land into agricultural circulation,
• Increasing soil productivity by 4–6 times,
• Reducing pressure on surface water sources,
• Stimulating additional investments in the agribusiness sector.
The investor’s leadership emphasizes that the key objective is to establish a resilient agricultural infrastructure based on efficient natural resource use and modern agrotechnologies.
The next step in the initiative will be the signing of an Investment Agreement, which will formalize mutual commitments and ensure state support for the project.
