Preparing for the sowing season: Prime Minister of Kazakhstan calls for efficiency and fairness in subsidies

 

At a meeting of the Government chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov discussed the progress of the sowing campaign in 2024. Reports were presented by the Ministers of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov and Energy Almasadam Satkaliev, as well as Akims of Turkestan, Akmola and Kostanay regions.

 

Preliminary data shows that the planned sown area will reach 23.8 million hectares. In accordance with the national policy of diversification of agricultural crops, this year it is envisaged to reduce the area under wheat and increase sowing of oilseeds by 373 thousand hectares and fodder crops by 66 thousand hectares. 1.5 million hectares have already been sown, and the mass sowing campaign is scheduled for the second decade of May.

 

The Minister of Agriculture said that the need for seeds at the level of 2.4 million tons is almost covered - at the moment 99% of seeds have been procured. The remaining seeds will be provided from the reserves of Prodkorporatsiya. Agrarians have already shipped 453 thousand tons of fertilizers, while the plan for the year is 1.5 million tons, of which 900 thousand tons were produced by local plants.

 

In preparation for the sowing campaign, agricultural organizations have 150,000 tractors, about 5,000 high-performance sowing complexes, 76,000 seeders and 219,000 tillage tools, which are 98% ready to start work.

 

The government has allocated KZT140 billion for spring agricultural works, with another KZT40 billion for the forward purchase program. In this regard, the head of the Government instructed the Ministry of Agriculture together with regional akimats to take all necessary measures for quality fulfillment of crop rotation in due time. Special attention is paid to effective subsidizing of agricultural producers.

Since akimats have been delegated the authority to distribute subsidies, Aidarbek Seypellovich together with regional akims has been instructed to strictly control fair and rational subsidizing of agricultural producers. The funds should contribute to the development of small and medium-sized farms, rather than increase the income of large players in the industry.

Regional Akimats have been tasked to ensure a wide coverage of agrarians, with special attention to small and medium-sized farms.

Prime Minister emphasized that all issues related to the spring field work should be solved promptly and be under constant control. In case of problems, they should be solved within the framework of the work of the Operational Headquarters.