Kazakhstan increased its oilseed harvest by 46%

The volume of agricultural production in Kazakhstan increased by 12.7%, the provision of the domestic market of Kazakhstan for key products exceeds the needs of the population, said Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov during the Parliamentary Hearings in the Senate of the Parliament of Kazakhstan on food security.

The provision of sunflower oil exceeds the need for 1.7 times, flour – 2.4 times, mutton – 106%, beef – 101%.

“According to the results of 10 months of this year there is a positive dynamics of the industry. The index of physical volume (IPV) of agriculture increased by 12.7% and amounted to 7.1 trillion tenge. Growth in crop production amounted to 18.8%, or 4.5 trillion tenge, in livestock – 3.3%.

The year was a record year in terms of grain harvest: 26.7 million tons of grain was threshed, which is 1.5 times higher than the level of 2023. Gross harvest of oilseeds amounted to 3.2 million tons, which is 46% higher than last year’s level. Sunflower seeds were harvested 35% more than last year, rice – 16% more, buckwheat – 42% more.

In 2024, the total sowing area amounted to 23.3 million hectares, of which 21.1 million hectares is the area of spring sowing. Compared to last year, the sown area of wheat decreased by 560.9 thousand hectares, amounting to 13.1 million hectares. At the same time, the area of oilseeds increased by 135.5 thousand hectares, reaching 2.9 million hectares, the area under highly profitable crops will continue to grow, the minister said.

It is predicted that this year the export potential will reach 12 million tons. The main markets will be Central Asian countries, China and Afghanistan. The issue of grain transportation in volumes of up to 2 million tons to such countries as Azerbaijan, Afghanistan (transit through Turkmenistan), Iran, Iraq, North African countries and the EU through the ports of the Black and Baltic seas is also being worked out.

The favorable regulatory impact on the market of Kazakhstan Food Corporation, which buys products from farmers at market prices, was separately noted. In 2024, Prodkorporatsiya launched a pilot program to finance farmers for sowing operations through a tripartite forward purchase of sunflower and sunflower oil. Plans are underway to modify the financing scheme to allow for 100 percent advance financing for agricultural producers.

Tags: Kazakhstan, sunseed