Rebooting Agricultural Science in Kazakhstan: Why Have Results Fallen Short?  

At a recent meeting focused on the development of agricultural science, officials from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture, regional deputy governors, heads of specialized departments, business associations, and territorial inspection specialists gathered to discuss the sector's progress.

 Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov reminded attendees of the President’s directives to advance agricultural science and integrate its results into production. A key task is the transformation of the National Agrarian Scientific and Educational Center into an agro-technological hub. However, the minister noted that the center’s performance has been unsatisfactory. In response, a new director, Aigul Akhmedzhanova, was appointed in the fall and tasked with analyzing the situation and resolving existing challenges.

 During the meeting, Vice Minister Yerbol Taszhurekov presented a report on the center’s activities. He highlighted the production of high-quality seeds and plans to increase their volumes in the coming years. The center also aims to create new crop varieties and scientific developments, including projects for preserving horse breeds.

 Kazakhstan's efforts to develop seed selection and breeding are being implemented through a comprehensive plan that includes legislative improvements and modernization of infrastructure. Projects in grain crops, rice farming, and cotton farming are receiving significant attention. However, as noted by the vice minister, further improvements in research quality are necessary. The strategy for the coming years will focus on creating platforms for collaboration between scientists, producers, and government bodies.

 Minister Saparov criticized the center’s efforts in commercialization, technology transfer, and personnel training. He pointed out that most graduates of agricultural universities do not remain in the sector, leading to a shortage of qualified professionals. To address this, the ministry aims to create favorable conditions for young specialists. Universities have been advised to collaborate more actively with regional administrations and large agricultural enterprises to provide practical training and facilitate employment opportunities.

 Special attention during the meeting was given to the functioning of the Institute of Horse Breeding and Feed Production. Participants emphasized the importance of cross-sectoral coordination to achieve set goals.

 The minister concluded by stressing that strong agricultural science and the implementation of its results at the local level are essential for the development of the country’s agricultural sector. He called for increased interagency cooperation and active collaboration with businesses to create a comprehensive support system for agriculture. According to Saparov, sufficient resources are available to solve the sector's fundamental problems.