From Crop Production to Livestock Farming: Kazakhstan’s Government Announces a New Priority for 2026

At the end of 2025, the Government of Kazakhstan outlined a new vector for the development of the agro-industrial complex. After two consecutive years of focusing on crop production, livestock farming is now set to become the top priority. Against the backdrop of rising beef prices, sectoral authorities have announced large-scale financial injections into the industry, along with administrative measures to regulate exports.

 

During a press briefing on December 24, Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov explained the fundamental reasons behind the current pricing dynamics in the red meat market. According to the head of the Ministry of Agriculture, the increase in beef prices is the result of a combination of several factors.

 

First, strong export demand. Foreign markets are actively purchasing Kazakhstani products, which has led to a shortage of supply on the domestic market.

Second, inefficient logistics. The supply chain from farmers to retail shelves is overloaded with unproductive intermediaries, significantly driving up the final price.

Third, a cumulative effect. The current price surge was preceded by a prolonged period of price stagnation, resulting in a delayed market correction.

 

The minister emphasized an important detail: wholesale procurement prices paid to farmers have risen much more moderately than retail prices. Nevertheless, even this limited increase in farmers’ revenues is encouraging producers to expand output. To do so, however, the sector is in urgent need of accessible working capital.

 

To address the issue in a systematic manner, the ministry is launching a large-scale support program. Aidarbek Saparov stated that at least KZT 200 billion in loans is planned to be allocated to stimulate the production of red meat, including beef and lamb. This amount may be increased in the future.

 

The key areas of financing include:

– importing breeding livestock to establish a foundation for rapid herd expansion;

– working capital lending, with a program for feedlots already launched in September of this year;

– preferential programs, with the introduction of new credit products scheduled for 2026.

 

The position of the government’s economic bloc was voiced on December 23 by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin. Commenting on the introduction of restrictions on beef exports, he noted that the measure is administrative in nature and aimed at short-term stabilization of domestic prices. The vice prime minister acknowledged that such bans cannot be applied on a long-term basis, but stressed that they will undoubtedly contribute to a reduction in prices.

 

Zhumangarin also outlined the government’s strategic plans for 2026. While over the past two years the state has actively invested in crop production, ensuring crop protection and financing field operations, a similar scale of efforts and resources will now be redirected to the livestock sector. The upcoming year has been declared a period of active development for this industry.

 

Thus, the government is attempting to correct imbalances in the meat market through a combined approach: temporarily “freezing” exports to achieve an immediate effect, while injecting hundreds of billions of tenge into production to ensure long-term market saturation.