How Kazakhstan’s Agricultural Sector Achieved Record Growth in 10 Years

The Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan held an expanded board meeting to summarize the sector's performance in 2024 and set key priorities for 2025. The event gathered around 300 participants, including deputies of the Mazhilis of Parliament, representatives of the Presidential Administration, the Government Office, state agencies, regional deputy akims, business representatives, and NGOs.

A Decade of Record Growth in Agriculture
Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov highlighted that 2024 was the most successful year for the sector in the past ten years. The total agricultural production increased by 13.7%, reaching 8.3 trillion tenge. The main contributors to this growth were improved access to preferential loans and simplified financing mechanisms, allowing farmers to adopt modern agricultural technologies and enhance productivity and competitiveness.
The ministry continues its gradual transition from direct subsidies to concessional lending for farmers, following the President’s directive. In 2025, this transition will be strengthened, with preferential financing for sowing operations increasing to 700 billion tenge, and an additional 200 billion tenge allocated for leasing agricultural machinery.

Crop Production as the Main Growth Driver
According to Vice Minister Azat Sultanov, crop production was the primary driver of agricultural growth. The best results in increasing gross output were achieved by the Karaganda, Pavlodar, East Kazakhstan, Abai, and Zhetysu regions. However, some other regions fell short of the planned targets.
New long-term support mechanisms for the agro-industrial complex were introduced in 2024. A Comprehensive Plan for Seed Selection and Breeding Development until 2028 was approved. The use of mineral fertilizers reached 1.3 million tons, double the 2023 level, while the area of irrigated land using water-saving technologies increased fivefold.
Significant attention was also given to upgrading agricultural machinery. Under the preferential leasing program, Kazakh farmers acquired 22,100 units of domestic agricultural machinery, 2,500 more than in 2023.

Roadmap Implementation and 2025 Goals
The Agricultural Development Roadmap aims to double the sector's gross production. However, regional performance remains uneven, with some areas achieving only 80% of their targets. The Ministry expects regional deputy akims to ensure full implementation of 2025 plans, particularly in diversifying sown areas and ensuring timely spring fieldwork.
The key goals for 2025 include:
• Timely and efficient agricultural fieldwork;
• Further diversification of crop structures;
• Increasing mineral fertilizer use to 1.9 million tons;
• Updating agricultural machinery by 6.5%.
Additionally, the government has set a 7% economic growth target, with priority funding for sectors with high added value. The food production sector is expected to grow by 4.5%, while the share of processed agricultural products should reach 50%. The overall gross agricultural output is projected to reach 9 trillion tenge.
Thus, in 2025, Kazakhstan’s agricultural sector will continue its modernization, technological adoption, and efficiency improvements. The Ministry of Agriculture believes that the strategies implemented will ensure sustainable growth and further strengthen the sector’s position.

Key Takeaways:
🔹 Record growth – Agricultural production increased by 13.7%, reaching 8.3 trillion tenge in 2024, driven by financing accessibility and modernization.
🔹 Crop production boost – Leading regions saw significant growth, irrigation areas expanded fivefold, and over 22,000 agricultural machines were purchased.
🔹 2025 targets – More funding, crop diversification, increased fertilizer use, and machinery renewal. Food processing should reach 50%, and total output is expected to hit 9 trillion tenge.