Oilseeds are displacing wheat from crop rotation in Kazakhstan

As of May 26, agricultural crops were sown on 14.5 million hectares in Kazakhstan. Of these, grains account for 10 million hectares, and oilseeds account for 3.2 million hectares. The total sown area is 23.8 million hectares, 180,000 hectares higher than last year, according to the press service of the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan.

According to the ministry, forage crops are sown on 861,400 hectares, cotton on 167,300 hectares, vegetables on 109,100 hectares, melons on 80,300 hectares, potatoes on 107,700 hectares, and sugar beets on 22,000 hectares.

The fertilizer application plan for 2026 is 2.3 million tons. According to current data from local akimats, contracts for the supply of 1.5 million tons of fertilizer have been signed to date, and 1.3 million tons have been shipped.

Local farmers note that the area under oilseed cultivation is expanding. According to Aibat Esenturov, this isn’t for fun, but to improve the economy. Last year, sunflower farmers achieved a yield of 20 centners per hectare, flax yielded 15-16 centners per hectare, and rapeseed yielded the same. With such yields and current market prices, profitability exceeds that of grain crops.

Of all oilseed crops, rapeseed is estimated to be the most difficult to grow, requiring close attention to pest infestations. There have been years when it was treated three or four times. As a result, its production cost is higher than other oilseeds, but its price is usually also higher. However, this year, sunflower proved to be the most profitable crop for the farm—it yielded a larger harvest and commanded a better price.

“We used to sell sunflower seeds for 120,000 tenge per ton, but this year we’re selling them for 220,000 tenge per ton,” said Aibat Esenturov. “That’s why we’re increasing the area planted with this crop: from 100 hectares to the current 1,000 hectares. We’ve perfected the technology: we need to sow by May 15th at the latest. Then there won’t be any problems with harvesting.”

Tags: Kazakhstan, wheat, sunseed, sown area