25.12.2025, 15:46
Record Non-Grain Harvest Exposes Capacity Shortages: Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture Prepares Elevator Modernization Program
Rising oilseed and pulse production highlights storage infrastructure constraints
The successful implementation of Kazakhstan’s crop diversification strategy yielded tangible results in 2025, marked by record harvests of oilseeds and pulses. However, the sharp increase in gross output has exposed a key infrastructure bottleneck — a shortage of specialized storage facilities. In response, the профиль ministry has announced plans to launch a preferential lending program aimed at upgrading the country’s elevator infrastructure.
Following a series of government press briefings, Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov confirmed that Kazakhstan’s agricultural sector is undergoing a significant structural transformation. Moving away from monoculture toward higher-margin crops has enabled farmers to achieve impressive production results.
According to updated data from the ministry, gross output of oilseed crops in the completed season reached 4.8 million tons. The harvest structure was dominated by the following crops:
sunflower — 2.3 million tons;
flax — 1.4 million tons;
rapeseed — 522 thousand tons.
A positive trend was also recorded in the pulses sector, where total production exceeded 1.1 million tons. Lentils accounted for the bulk of the harvest at 842 thousand tons, followed by peas (222 thousand tons) and chickpeas (22 thousand tons).
The cotton industry has drawn particular attention from analysts. For the first time in 18 years, cotton growers harvested 430 thousand tons of raw cotton, setting a record for the segment.
Such large volumes of produce requiring specific storage conditions — unlike traditional wheat — have placed significant pressure on existing infrastructure. The Ministry of Agriculture acknowledges that current storage capacities are insufficient and are beginning to constrain further sectoral growth.
To address the logistics challenge, the ministry is developing a dedicated financial instrument. According to the minister, the initiative will involve preferential loans aimed at expanding existing elevator facilities, constructing new complexes, and implementing technological upgrades.
The financing mechanism is expected to become available to businesses in the first half of 2026. Experts believe the measure will not only help preserve crop quality but also enhance Kazakhstan’s export potential by enabling long-term storage and allowing producers to wait for more favorable price conditions on global markets.
