Kazakhstan Produces Enough Grain to Meet Bread and Flour Demands
Kazakhstan Anticipates 16 Million Tons of Grain Harvest Despite Adverse Weather Conditions
The agriculture sector in Kazakhstan is expected to yield 16 million tons of gross grain harvest this year, according to Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov. This, combined with three million tons of transitional reserves, will be sufficient to meet the country’s demand for bread and flour. Minister Saparov made these remarks during a government meeting held on November 7, chaired by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov, as reported by the Prime Minister’s press service.
Despite facing poor weather conditions, including a hot and dry summer, which adversely affected the growth of grain crops, Kazakhstan’s efforts in cultivating crops have yielded positive results. The total cultivated area for crops this year reached 24 million hectares, which is 652,000 more than in 2022. Additionally, the country has collected three million tons of vegetables, 3.5 million tons of potatoes, and 1.6 million tons of oilseeds.
Prime Minister Smailov acknowledged the challenges faced by farmers due to the unfavorable weather conditions, resulting in reduced yields and compromised grain quality. However, he assured the population that there would be no shortage of bread, thanks to carryover reserves from the previous year.
To support timely harvesting, 426,000 tons of discounted diesel fuel were allocated to agricultural organizations at a subsidized rate of 250 tenge ($0.54) per liter. An additional 62,500 tons of fuel were designated for grain and oilseed drying. The government has also implemented measures such as fair purchase prices and credit extensions without penalties to support domestic farmers.
In terms of financial support, the government has allocated the first 30 billion tenge ($64.4 million) for crop subsidies and made decisions to allocate funds for the direct purchase of wheat.
Despite the challenging circumstances, Kazakhstan remains optimistic about meeting its domestic demand for bread and flour. The country’s efforts in agriculture, combined with the support measures provided by the government, are expected to ensure a stable food supply for the population.
