BAKU, Azerbaijan, February 22. Sown areas in Kazakhstan will reach 23.4 million hectares in 2023, which is an increase of 68,600 hectares compared to 2022, Yerbol Karashukeyev, Minister of Agriculture, said, Trend reports, citing Kazakh media.
The minister added that leguminous and grain crops sown areas will increase by 117,000 hectares, while fodder crops and sugar beet acreage will expand by 36,500 and 6,700 hectares. The sown areas of other categories of agriculture goods to be increased in 2023 include increasing vegetable and potato crops acreage by 11,100 hectares.
The head of the ministry noted that the increase in the acreage of these products is linked to their significant importance to the food security of the country.
Karashukeyev added that due to the changing market dynamic, safflower, soy, and the mustard plant sown areas are to be decreased.
Food security is one of the most pressing priorities of the Kazakh government. To achieve this goal, recently, Kazakhstan discussed the draft Concept for the development of the agro-industrial complex until 2030. The Concept was developed with the participation of government representatives, experts, and business leaders.
The document is expected to serve as a strategy for combating global challenges and potentially harmful global trends, which may harm the Kazakh agriculture sector.