On the platform of the SCC Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Kazakhstan Abulkhair Tamabek told about the progress of preparations for the spring field work.

As Deputy Minister of Agriculture Abulkhair Tamabek informed, according to the data of oblast akimats a forecast structure of sowing areas in 2023 was formed. So, total sown area this year will be 23.4 million hectares, which is 68.6 thousand hectares more than the indicator of the year 2022.

"It is planned to increase the sown area of cereals and leguminous crops by 117 thousand hectares, fodder crops by 36.5 thousand hectares and sugar beet by 6.7 thousand hectares. Due to changes in market conditions a slight reduction of sowing area of some oil-bearing crops, such as safflower, soybeans and mustard, is projected," Deputy Minister said.

 At the same time for such socially important crop as sunflower, it is planned to increase area by 30.8 thousand hectares. On vegetable and melon crops and potatoes it is planned to increase seeding area by 11,1 thousand hectares.

"As for moisture-intensive crops, this year, compared with last year, it is projected to reduce the area of cotton area by 14.8 thousand hectares, which will amount to 111.4 thousand hectares. At the same time, despite of Government order on reduction of area of water-intensive crops, increase of rice area in comparison with the last year is observed on 7,6 th.ha (2023 - 95,4 th.ha). In general, the planned areas of cereals, vegetables and melons, potatoes will fully meet the needs of the domestic market," Tamabek A. said.

One of the important problems of agriculture in the country is to take measures for accumulation of moisture in the soil and its rational use. According to RSE "Kazgidromet" from February 21 to March 1, in most parts of the country precipitation was near or exceeded the norm.

The heaviest precipitation occurred in the west, north, east and in the mountainous and foothill areas of the southeast and in some places in the south. In the rest of the area, precipitation was mostly less than normal.

"As of March 1, the height of snow cover in the west of the country ranged from 5-16 cm to 19-36 cm, in some places in the far north-west it reached up to 42-61 cm, in the north it ranged from 2-10 cm to 12-58 cm, in the center from 7-15 cm to 18-39 cm, In the east from 9-20 cm to 22-75 cm, in the highlands up to 101 cm, in the southeast 2-6 cm, in the mountain and foothill areas 5-23 cm, in the Alakol region to 74 cm and in some areas of the south-west (Atyrau region) 5-14 cm," Deputy Minister informed.  

According to him, agricultural producers will be provided with the necessary resources to qualitatively carry out spring field work in optimal time. There are 149.8 thousand tractors, more than 4.9 thousand units of high-performance sowing complexes, 76 thousand seeders, 219 thousand tillage implements for the campaign.

"Presence in the republic of more than 4.9 thousand units of modern sowing complexes, simultaneously performing several technological operations, allows to sow 70% of the area of grain crops with precise observance of agrotechnologies. The readiness of these techniques is about 95%, by the beginning of the mass seeding works, the readiness will be provided at 100%," Deputy Minister informed.

To conduct spring works, 413 thousand tons of diesel fuel has been allocated to the regions, it is 13 thousand tons more than last year. Together with the Ministry of Energy approved the schedule of assignment of regions to refineries and the fixed price for February - March months from the refineries - 222 thousand tg/ton or 184 tg/litre. 

At present, in accordance with the Shipment Schedule, regional operators have almost fully paid for the February volume of 79.6 thousand tons or 98% of the plan (the plan is 81 thousand tons), 55.6 thousand tons or 69% have been shipped. The Ministry conducts daily monitoring of diesel fuel shipment to the regions.

According to the operative data of akimats of regions seed filling was implemented by 100% of the plan. Farmers formed a seed fund in the amount of 2.4 million tons. For examination there has already arrived 1,4 million tons of seeds of spring crops. Of the tested volume of seeds, 99.7% were found to be in good condition, and 93.4% correspond to the 1st and 2nd class of the sowing standard.

Seed stocks in warehouses have also been formed in the regions. For 2023 there is 11,4 billion tenge in local budgets of regions on subsidizing of seed production development.

Thanks to the state support, by the results of last year, for the first time in 10 years, fertilizer application reached the level of 667 thousand tons or 26% of scientific need.

"This year it is planned to apply about 704 thousand tons of fertilizers, 63% of which are domestic fertilizers (ammonium nitrate and ammophos). As of today, for the spring field work the agrarians received 112 thousand tons of fertilizers, including 31 thousand tons of fertilizers to the southern regions. To subsidize mineral fertilizers in the local budgets provided 31.3 billion tg. For the protection of crops from pests and weeds on the subsidy program of pesticides this year provided 32.6 billion tenge," Tamabek informed.  

For the first time since January this year, funding for the spring field work in the amount of 140 billion tg (previously received no earlier than March). Without waiting for allocation of the mentioned funds, Agrarian Credit Corporation started to finance from the available resources in December.  

In total it is planned to cover more than 3,200 AHTP, and ensure the sowing and harvesting of around 2 million hectares. To date, has already received about 3 thousand applications amounting to 132.6 billion tenge, 1,263 applications have been approved in the amount of more than 70.9 billion tenge.

Also, funding through the Food Contract Corporation will be continued. This year, the Food Corporation will be sent to the sector 55 billion tenge, of which on the forward purchase program 20 billion tenge, through the issuance of commodity credit - 35 billion tenge.

As Tamabek stressed, in order to quickly solve all problematic issues an Operational Headquarters was created under the Ministry with the involvement of all necessary government agencies and organizations, as well as deputy akims of regions and cities.

"The measures taken will allow us to conduct the sowing campaign qualitatively and in optimal agro-technical terms," the Deputy Minister concluded. 

As Deputy Chairman of the Board of JSC "Agrarian Credit Corporation" Marlen Nabiyev said it is planned to finance 62.2 billion tenge through credit partnerships, 71 billion tenge through BVU, and 6.8 billion tenge through microfinance organizations of the regional investment center. Interest rate for financial institutions will be 1.5%, for the final borrowers taking into account the margin of financial institutions rate will be 5%. The term of the loan for final borrowers is up to March 1, 2024.

"This year's budget loan was a long term loan, so the repayment period for this program has been moved to March 1, 2024. This will allow farmers to sell agricultural products at better prices," the speaker said.

Already financed 847 agricultural producers worth 30 billion 600 million tenge, approved for financing 1298 agricultural producers worth 72.1 billion tenge, under consideration - 199 agricultural producers worth 9.3 billion tenge, in the collection of documents - 1537 agricultural producers worth 28.9 billion tenge.

"Last December we started funding for spring field work in 2023. We appeal to our agricultural producers that funding, replenishment of working capital for spring field work," Nabiyev said.

#Agriculture