Kazakhstan Expands Oilseed Crop Areas

A meeting of the operational headquarters was held in the government to discuss preparations for the spring fieldwork. The main focus was on crop diversification, financing for agricultural producers, and ensuring they have the necessary resources.

Increase in Sown Areas and Key Directions
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the sown area of agricultural crops in Kazakhstan in 2025 will reach 23.7 million hectares, which is 385,000 hectares more than last year. The most significant growth will be seen in oilseed crops, with an increase of 363,000 hectares, including 120,000 hectares dedicated to sunflower. Additionally, fodder crop areas will be expanded by 122,000 hectares.
Spring sowing has already begun in the southern regions of the country. According to operational data, 15,000 hectares have been sown to date, including 8,900 hectares of vegetable crops, 5,600 hectares of fodder crops, and 500 hectares of grain crops.
However, some regions are lagging behind the established targets. Akmola, Almaty, Zhambyl, Kyzylorda, and Turkestan regions have not yet reached planned volumes for oilseed crops, while Zhambyl and Turkestan regions are also behind on fodder crops.

Equipment Readiness and Industry Subsidies
Currently, the agricultural machinery fleet is 85% ready, but authorities assure that this figure will reach 100% by the start of mass fieldwork. In 2025, 200 billion tenge will be allocated for preferential leasing to update the machine and tractor fleet.
According to KazAgroFinance JSC, over 2,200 applications have been submitted for the purchase of 3,700 units of agricultural machinery. So far, 85 applications have been approved, allowing the purchase of 120 units of equipment.

Financing and Fuel Supply
For the spring fieldwork, 401,000 tons of diesel fuel have been allocated at a preferential price of 254 tenge per liter, which is 14% cheaper than the market price, easing the burden on farmers.
Additionally, the total volume of preferential agricultural crediting has been increased to 700 billion tenge, ensuring support for at least 8 million hectares of sown areas. As of today, more than 1,900 agricultural producers have already received funding, with a total of 213.4 billion tenge allocated.

The government of Kazakhstan is actively working to ensure a stable spring planting season. Expanding sown areas, subsidizing agricultural producers, and modernizing equipment should improve industry efficiency. However, some challenges remain, including lagging behind in certain crop categories and the need to quickly bring equipment readiness to 100%.

🔑 Key Takeaways:
🔹 The area under oilseed crops will increase by 363,000 hectares, including an additional 120,000 hectares for sunflower.
🔹 Farmers will receive financial and fuel support – 401,000 tons of diesel fuel at 254 tenge/liter have been allocated, and the total amount of preferential crediting has reached 700 billion tenge.
🔹 Agricultural equipment is actively being upgraded – 200 billion tenge has been allocated for preferential leasing, with 2,200 applications already submitted for machinery procurement.