Sunflower remains a key crop in the Abai region

The Abai region is actively preparing for the start of spring fieldwork, demonstrating a high level of organization for the campaign.
Agricultural producers in the region have заранее secured seed material, tested its germination, and signed contracts for the supply of elite seeds and hybrids of sunflower and corn.

At the same time, work is ongoing to conclude agreements with fertilizer producers and suppliers, which will ensure that the upcoming sowing campaign is fully provided with the necessary resources. Currently, the readiness of agricultural machinery stands at about 80%, and it is planned to reach 100% by the start of the main field operations.

Special attention is being paid to upgrading the technical fleet: farmers are investing in modern agricultural machinery whenever possible, which is expected to increase productivity both during sowing and harvesting.

Sunflower remains one of the priority crops in the region. According to farmers, it forms the basis of economic stability for their farms. With high oil content, the selling price reaches up to 250 thousand tenge per ton, making it one of the most profitable crops.

The area under wheat remains relatively small. As noted by farmers, the potential for further reduction has almost been exhausted. At the same time, barley and corn are actively cultivated, mainly used as a feed base due to the developed livestock sector in the region.

Farmers are counting on sufficient soil moisture accumulation in the spring. According to them, the snow cover in the fields is uneven and averages 20–30 cm, but due to warm weather it is rapidly settling and may melt quickly. Daytime temperatures are already rising to +10°C, thawed patches are appearing in the fields, and in some places the soil is exposed, taking on a darker color. The last snowstorm, according to farmers, did not bring significant benefits: most of the snow was blown off the fields and accumulated in forest areas and settlements.

Currently, the soil freezing depth is about 15 cm. It is expected that as the snow melts, moisture will infiltrate the soil and provide the necessary reserves for the initial stage of crop growth.

At the same time, experts emphasize that it is still too early to make forecasts about a high harvest — final conclusions will depend on future weather conditions.