Small Farms in Kazakhstan Gain Access to Organic Market Through PGS

The European Union remains the largest importer of Kazakhstan’s organic agricultural products, with annual exports exceeding USD 30 million. As of today, about 70 agricultural enterprises in Kazakhstan have successfully passed organic production certification. In an effort to further develop this promising market and involve small-scale farms in organic production, Kazakhstan has legally enshrined provisions for the operation of the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS). This information was presented by the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs "Atameken".

PGS: An Affordable Alternative to Expensive Certification
As noted by Yerbol Yeseneev, Deputy Chairman of the Board of NCE "Atameken", the transition to organic production and its subsequent certification involve significant economic costs. This factor is one of the key barriers preventing widespread participation of small farms in organic agriculture. Yeseneev emphasized that PGS is an alternative certification mechanism based on the principles of trust, transparency, and active involvement of local stakeholders.
Unlike costly third-party certifications such as EU Organic, the PGS system is tailored to support small farmers, agricultural cooperatives, and local markets.
Responding to frequently asked questions about the essence of PGS, Yeseneev explained that it is a system of mutual quality guarantees, where farmers united in groups share responsibility for compliance with organic standards. He especially highlighted that PGS is not merely a certification procedure, but rather a philosophy of honest treatment of the land and the consumer.

Farmers Inspecting Farmers: System Advantages
Chairman of Technical Committee 100 "Organic Products" at Seifullin Kazakh Agro Technical Research University, Berdibek Bulashev, added that the PGS system is ideally suited for farmers with limited resources, as it does not require payment for third-party inspection services. Bulashev clarified that within PGS, the farmers themselves actively participate in inspection, decision-making, quality control, and knowledge exchange. Participation in the system improves farmers’ skills in organic standards and record-keeping.

It is important to note that no entry or participation fees are charged; everything operates on a voluntary and collective basis. This makes the system accessible even to the smallest farms. According to Atameken, Kazakhstan has become the second country in the CIS to successfully implement the PGS model, opening new prospects for the development of organic agriculture in the region.