Kazakhstan Will Continue Diversifying Agricultural Crop Production

The Government of Kazakhstan is actively supporting the diversification of agricultural crops, aiming for the sustainable development of the country’s agrarian sector. This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin during his visit to the A.I. Baraev Grain Farming Research Center in the Akmola region. This center is a leading institution in the selection, seed production, and commercialization of drought- and heat-resistant grain crops, as well as perennial legumes and forage grasses.

This year, Kazakhstan has significantly reduced the area allocated for grain crops, preferring instead to focus on oilseeds and forage crops. Deputy Prime Minister Zhumangarin instructed the center to develop proposals to prevent pasture degradation, which is an important task for the country. Among the proposed measures is the increase in the production of seeds for perennial cereals and legumes, as well as annual forage crops that can improve the condition of pastures.

Additionally, Zhumangarin emphasized the need to expand elite seed farms that will focus on reproducing domestic varieties of forage crops, ensuring their resilience and competitiveness in international markets.

One of the key initiatives proposed by the Deputy Prime Minister was the study of the possibility of implementing carbon farming at the center. This innovation will open up new opportunities for farmers, as forage grasses, according to Zhumangarin, have high export potential and can generate income significantly higher than that of wheat sales.

The government’s strategy for diversifying crop production in Kazakhstan is aimed at increasing the area of drought-resistant, oilseed, and forage crops, which, according to experts, should become a priority for agricultural science and the entire agricultural sector of the country.