BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb.16
Trend:
The Minister of Agriculture of Kazakhstan Saparkhan Omarov at a Government meeting informed about the development dynamics of the agro-industrial complex in January 2021, Trend reports referring to the ministry.
According to Omarov, the volume of gross agricultural output in January increased by 2.5 percent and exceeded 170 billion tenge ($410 million). The growth was mainly due to an increase in livestock production by 2.7 percent - up to 158.4 billion tenge ($380 million). So, in the first month of this year production of meat in carcass weight grew by 5.3 percent, and milk - by 3.8 percent.
Crop products in January were produced for 10.2 billion tenge ($24 million). Almost the entire volume has been provided by greenhouses.
Food production in January increased by 0.8 percent - up to 142.1 billion tenge ($340 million). Meanwhile, the production of vegetable oil rose by 26.7 percent (from 33,000 to almost 42,000 tons), beet sugar - by 25.1 percent (from 4,600 to 5,800 tons), butter - by 16.3 percent (from 1,400 to 1,600 tons), processed milk - by 3.2 percent (from 48,200 to 49,700 tons), cheese and cottage cheese - by 0.8 percent (from 2,358 to 2,377 tons).
The minister also announced the work plans of the Ministry of Agriculture for 2021.
This year it’s planned to ensure the growth of gross agricultural output at the level of 105 percent, food production - at the level of 107 percent.
The target indicators will be ensured by taking measures to saturate the domestic market with socially significant foodstuffs and increase the competitiveness of the Kazakh agro-industrial complex. For this, state support of the agro-industrial complex will continue, including investment subsidies, subsidies in crop production, and animal husbandry. About 309 billion tenge ($740 million) will be allocated for the purposes, said the minister.
In accordance with the instructions of the country's leadership, investment projects will be implemented aimed at creating ecosystems for the production and processing of grain crops in the North Kazakhstan region, oilseeds - in Akmola, while meat - in Aktobe and Almaty regions.
Besides, within the framework of import substitution, it is planned to launch 35 dairy farms already this year (with a total capacity of 131,000 tons of milk), over 2,000 hectares of orchards (with a production capacity of 73,500 tons of apples per year), 3 meat processing plants (with a capacity of 45 000 tons of meat products), 5 poultry factories (with a capacity of 42,000 tons), 4 fish production facilities (with a total capacity of about 8 000 tons of fish). The construction of a sugar plant with a capacity of 150,000 tons of sugar will also begin.
In general, in 2021 it’s planned to implement 79 investment projects in various directions.
In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture is already working on preparations for the sowing campaign. Based on the forecast structure, the total sown area will be increased by 86,400 hectares - up to 22.7 million ha. It’s also planned to increase the area of oilseeds, fodder, and vegetable and melon crops, as well as social crops such as buckwheat and sugar beet. At the same time, the area for planting monocultures and moisture-intensive crops such as wheat, rice, and cotton will be reduced, noted the ministry’s head.
"For the timely conduct of spring fieldwork, farmers will be provided with concessional lending for 70 billion tenge ($17 million), as well as with 11 percent cheaper fuel and lubricants in the volume of almost 380,000 tons. Moreover, a forward purchase of about 350,000 tons of agricultural products is planned to help farmers,” he added.
“At the same time, the volume of subsidies for seed production will amount to 11.8 billion tenge ($28 million), which will increase the availability of quality seeds. The spring fieldwork will be conducted under the special control of the Ministry of Agriculture," concluded Omarov.