BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 21. The construction of dozens of modern dairy farms is currently underway in the North Kazakhstan region, akim (governor) of the region Aydarbek Saparov said during a briefing at the Central Communications Service, Trend reports.
According to him, emphasis on livestock development stems from its ability to provide year-round employment opportunities and generate income for rural communities. In just five months, meat production has surged by 7.1 percent, reaching an impressive 37,300 tons. Milk production has also risen by 4.4 percent. Remarkably, the region annually contributes 10 percent of the country's total milk volume, equivalent to 650,000 tons.
"This was achieved through the opening of 30 modern high-performance dairy farms with a milking parlor. Moreover, an additional 17 farms, with a combined capacity of 13,000 heads of cattle, have commenced construction this year, with nine of them scheduled for completion by the year-end," he said.
Furthermore, the governor noted that the construction of each farm creates a minimum of 50 job opportunities in rural areas.
According to Saparov, the ambitious scale of farm construction became feasible through the implementation of a pilot project financed by the social entrepreneurship corporation. The project offers favorable conditions, including an interest rate of 2.5 percent and a loan duration of up to 10 years, with a grace period of two years.
He also noted that over the past two years, milk processing has increased by 20 percent, while meat processing has grown by 19 percent. Notably, the region is home to the Eurasian Milk Plant, which, through the establishment of dairy farms, has gained the capability to produce solid cheese varieties. Once fully operational, the plant is expected to yield an annual production of 6,000 tons of cheese. Additionally, plans are underway to introduce a new product to the region - condensed milk, with an estimated annual output of 12,000 tons.