3.6 billion tenge of financial assistance was allocated from the government reserve to the drought-affected Mangystau and Kyzylorda regions. This was announced by the acting Minister of Agriculture Yerbol Karashukeyev at the government session chaired by Prime Minister Askar Mamin.

“The weather conditions this year have created certain difficulties in providing forage for the livestock of agricultural animals, because the main part of the pastures under the influence of drought burned out, and natural hayfields did not deteriorate. The government is taking concrete measures to rectify the situation,” Karashukeyev said.

Thus, the Republican Operational Headquarters has been created and is functioning to coordinate the activities of local and central executive bodies in matters of forage procurement.

Financial assistance is provided to the affected regions. The Mangystau and Kyzylorda regions, which were most affected by the drought, were allocated 3.6 billion tenge from the Government's reserve to reimburse the cost of purchasing feed. The issue of allocating the Mangystau region an additional 5.3 billion tenge for the procurement of feed has been resolved. Along with this, 9.1 billion tenge was allocated from local budgets to solve the problems of forage procurement, an additional 4.5 billion tenge is expected to be allocated.

A decision has been made and applications have already begun for the prolongation and restructuring of debts on loans to agricultural producers in the affected regions.

A set of measures is being implemented to maximize the volume of fodder procurement in the field. The regions were additionally allocated 43.1 thousand tons of cheaper diesel fuel for the purpose of storing feed. The regions have signed agreements and memorandums on the mutual supply of feed at fixed prices and on the allocation of about 130 thousand hectares of hay land to affected farms for haymaking. It is also allowed to harvest fodder on 211 thousand hectares of natural reserves.

“Volunteer organizations are also involved in this work, and they have already delivered about 150 wagons of feed to the affected regions. The distribution of these resources locally is carried out with the active participation of public councils,” Yerbol Karashukeyev noted and expressed gratitude to the volunteers and all concerned citizens of the country for organizing this assistance.

Measures are also being taken to provide grain fodder through the Food Contract Corporation. In particular, the subjects of the affected regions were sold 1.2 thousand tons of feed barley at a price 17% lower than the market price. Currently, it is envisaged to allocate 20 billion tenge by the Food Corporation for the creation of additional reserves of feed grain in the amount of 200 thousand tons.

In addition to this, JSC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy made a decision to maintain preferential tariffs for the transportation of feed until the end of August at a level 77% lower than the market.

In addition, on Aug. 23, 2021, the decision on the introduction of a temporary ban on the export of roughage from the republic comes into force; from Sep. 1, quotas for the export of grain fodder are introduced.

In addition, the Operational Headquarters instructed local executive bodies to create funds to help the affected regions, organize work on the procurement of straw and create a reserve of grain fodder and bran. It was recommended to take under special control the issues of providing food to personal subsidiary plots, to secure organized farms for those who are not able to provide themselves with fodder with their own capabilities. At the same time, special attention is paid to the need to strengthen control over feed prices, within the existing legislative framework, to take the necessary measures to prevent unreasonable price increases.

“All these measures have made it possible to largely stabilize the situation and reduce the initial tension that existed in society before the start of the forage harvesting season,” the acting Minister of Agriculture said.

To carry out a successful wintering of cattle, together with the regional akimats, plans for the procurement of fodder have been determined. Thus, the plan for hay harvesting, taking into account reserves, is 23.7 million tons. In fact, 19.7 million tons of hay or 83% were harvested. In Almaty, Zhambyl and Kostanay regions, hay has been harvested over 90% of the plan.

Organized farms procured 989 thousand tons of haylage, which is 62% of the plan. We also started harvesting silage, the plan is more than 2 million tons. Plans have been defined for the procurement of 4.8 million tons of straw and 6 million tons of concentrated feed.

For the northern regions, increased plans have been brought up not only for hay, but also for harvesting straw in case of a shortage of hay in other regions. Completion of roughage harvesting is forecasted by Oct. 15.

Along with this, the ministry plans to implement a number of systemic measures aimed at increasing the sustainability of the development of animal husbandry.

First. To achieve real diversification in agriculture, to focus on the fulfillment by land users of the obligations taken under the lease agreement to comply with scientifically grounded crop rotations, in which it is envisaged to have fodder crops in the crop rotation.

“At present, only about 3 million hectares are occupied by fodder crops, although in 1991 this figure for the republic was at the level of 11.5 million hectares, or the share of fodder crops in the total arable land area reached almost 33%,” Karashukeyev informed.

To control this process, the capabilities of modern technologies for space monitoring and remote sensing of the earth will be used to the maximum.

Climate change has led to an ever-increasing scarcity of water resources. As a result, the area of ​​irrigated land over the past 30 years has decreased by more than 2 times — from 3 million hectares to 1.4 million hectares. Therefore, the rational use of irrigation water through the transition to modern water-saving technologies, the reduction of areas of moisture-intensive crops in the framework of diversification, the search for new sources of water resources are the main solutions.

Second. Development of a forage seed production system. Currently, the country has 59 subjects of seed production for fodder crops. However, their potential for seed production is not being fully exploited.

“Last year, agricultural producers purchased a little more than 1,000 tons of fodder seeds, although according to scientific standards, about 300,000 tons of seeds are needed to fully supply the country's forage production with seeds. With such a shortage, it is difficult to count on the formation of a solid forage base for animal husbandry. We plan that the process of diversification of agriculture, the observance of scientifically grounded crop rotations should create a steady demand for seeds of fodder crops,” the acting minister noted.

Third. Increasing the productivity of the used rangelands and expanding their boundaries. Compliance with pasture rotation is the direct responsibility of every land user. And here the question rests on the control mechanism due to the lack of an appropriate methodology, and this requires the necessary applied scientific research.

As for the issues of expanding the boundaries of the used pastures, the main problem here is their watering. The work that has been carried out by the ministry so far in solving this problem needs not only to be revitalized, but also to be transferred to a new conceptual basis, which will allow more efficient and rational use of budget funds.

“Speaking about pastures, it is impossible to ignore the problem of providing them with livestock on personal subsidiary plots. It should be understood that the existing mechanisms for solving this problem are either high-cost or unacceptable for rural residents due to the remoteness of the allocated land from settlements. And today it basically acts as a deterrent to solving the problem. We see one of the ways out of this situation in the cooperation of personal subsidiary plots. We will carry out this work within the framework of fulfilling the instructions of the Government on scaling the experience of the Zhambyl region and, based on the existing positive examples of cooperation in other regions of the country,” Yerbol Karashukeyev emphasized.

Turning to the issue of preparing for the harvesting campaign, the Acting Minister of Agriculture reported that the total sown area of ​​agricultural crops this year amounted to 23 million hectares, which is 322 thousand hectares more than in 2020.

Cereals and leguminous crops are located on an area of ​​15.9 million hectares, oilseeds — 3.1 million hectares, vegetables and melons and potatoes — 473.8 thousand hectares, cotton — 109.7 thousand hectares, sugar beets — 21.7 thousand hectares, fodder crops — 3.2 million ha.

He noted that the sowing campaign was carried out at the optimum time using quality seeds. Farmers applied fertilizers on time, timely carried out chemical treatment of crops against weeds and diseases.

At the same time, due to the established anomalous soil and atmospheric drought, the state of grain crops this year has deteriorated significantly, and this situation is observed not only in Kazakhstan. The downward trend in crops has affected many grain-sowing countries around the world.

Thus, according to the US Department of Agriculture and the International Grains Council in Canada, the gross harvest of wheat is expected to decrease by 31.6% compared to last year, in the United States of America — by 4.4%, in the neighboring Russian Federation, a decrease in the gross harvesting wheat by 15%.

According to the regional akimats, as of Aug. 12, 2021, the state of grain crops is assessed as:

• good and satisfactory — by 13,241.1 thousand hectares or 85.2% of the total sown area of ​​grain crops;
• bad — by 2,122.3 thousand hectares or 13.7%;
• perished — 178.3 thousand hectares or 1.1%.

According to the regional akimats, the forecasted volume of gross grain harvest is expected to reach 15.3 million tons.

In addition, the republic has a carry-over of 3.5 million tons of grain, including wheat — 2.8 million tons.

The expected volume of gross grain harvest, taking into account carry-overs, is sufficient to fully meet the domestic needs of the republic, as well as to sell certain volumes of grain for export.

Also, within the framework of the instructions of the Head of State, this year the Food Contract Corporation carried out a forward purchase of agricultural products, thanks to which the volume of grain supplies to the Food Contract Corporation resources in the amount of 769.5 thousand tons was contracted. At the same time, the Food Contract Corporation already has a reserve stock of grain in the amount of 448 thousand tons. The indicated volumes of grain, if necessary, will be directed to the domestic market in order to stabilize it and ensure food safety.

“The harvesting campaign this year has begun on time and to date, more than 1.5 million hectares of grain and leguminous crops, or 14% of their total harvested area, have been harvested throughout the republic,” the acting minister said.

With an average yield of 10.1 c / ha, 1.5 million tons of grain were threshed. The main grain-sowing regions will start mass harvesting from the third decade of this month.

By the beginning of the massive harvesting operations, agricultural producers had prepared all the necessary equipment. In general, there are 141.7 thousand tractors, 73.5 thousand tractor trailers, 36.9 thousand grain harvesters, 12.8 thousand headers for harvesting operations in the republic.

In order to exclude a long stoppage of work, agricultural producers have formed repair teams. Corresponding work was carried out with service companies to strengthen their field service, as well as to fill the warehouses with the necessary spare parts. 396.5 thousand tons of preferential diesel fuel were allocated for the timely implementation of harvesting works of agricultural production plant.

Together with the Ministry of Energy, a schedule was approved for assigning regional operators to refineries. The July volumes are fully selected by the regions. The August volumes are currently being shipped.

For the period of harvesting, the regional akimats need to ensure constant control over the work of operators for the timely shipment of fuel to the peasants.

The Ministry constantly monitors the preparation of elevators for the acceptance of a new crop. The total storage capacity of grain in the republic is 27.5 million tons, including 12 million tons at grain-receiving enterprises, 15.5 million tons at agricultural producers. The specified storage capacity is sufficient to store the projected yield, taking into account carry-overs from previous years.

The primary task now is to harvest the grown crop without losses, while it is necessary to take into account that, according to the forecast of Kazhydromet, in the fall in most of the republic, precipitation is expected within normal limits, in the northeast — more than normal.

In this regard, according to Karashukeyev, it is necessary to make the most of every fine day, to take measures to increase productivity by avoiding downtime, organizing, if possible, two-shift work of harvesting equipment.

In the Mangystau region, work is currently underway to procure feed for farm animals for the winter period. Akim of the region Serikbay Trumov reported on this.

“In general, in the region for the winter period the need is 77 thousand tons of hay and 53 thousand tons of fodder. Since the beginning of the year, the volume of hay harvested is 35 thousand tons,” he said.

In addition, 2.8 thousand tons of hay, which came to help from other regions, were distributed free of charge to the peasant farms of the region most affected by the drought.

Trumov on behalf of the population of the Mangystau region expressed gratitude to the volunteer groups of years. Nur-Sultan, Shymkent, Turkistan, Almaty, Aktobe, West Kazakhstan, Karaganda, Kostanay, Zhambyl regions, akimats, deputies of the Nur Otan party and the organization of Kazakstan Temir Zholy JSC.

At the same time, 5.3 billion tenge was allocated from the budget for the procurement of feed as repayable funds. Of these, for 1.9 billion tenge by the end of the year, 42 thousand tons of hay will be purchased through the Caspian SEC. Memorandums were signed with the akimats of Aktobe and West Kazakhstan regions for the supply of feed to the region.

As for the procurement of fodder, in general for the region for the winter period, according to the standard, 53 thousand tons of fodder are needed. To date, 19 thousand tons have already been imported from other regions. There are funds in the region for the purchase of the remaining 34 thousand tons of feed.

“At the same time, special operators will be determined through the SEC Caspian. In this regard, assistance from NC Food Contract Corporation JSC is required for the procurement of 34 thousand tons of bran from other regions for the Mangystau region at an affordable price to the population,’’ the regional akim noted.

From the reserve of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, funds in the amount of 1.9 billion tenge were allocated to partially reimburse the cost of feed for the broodstock of farm animals in the region. Of these, 350 million tenge were distributed across 2,800 personal subsidiary plots and 80 million tenge 93 among peasant farms. The rest of the funds will be fully distributed by October 2021.

In the Kyzylorda region, according to the akim Gulshara Abdykalikova, this year agricultural crops are located on an area of ​​188 thousand hectares. Of these, the area of ​​the main crop - rice - amounted to 83.6 thousand hectares. Taking into account the lack of water in the current year, rice crops have been reduced by 6 thousand hectares. Due to the reduction of sowing rice, the area of ​​less water-intensive crops — vegetables, melons, oilseeds and fodder crops - was increased by 9.8 thousand. At this time, harvesting is carried out in accordance with the planned schedule.

“It is planned to start harvesting rice in the third decade of August. In general, 4,266 units will be involved in the harvesting campaign. agricultural machinery. The availability of equipment for today is 98%,” the regional akim said.

The supply of diesel fuel is carried out in accordance with the approved schedule. The harvesting works are planned to be fully completed no later than Oct. 15.

In accordance with zootechnical norms, 770 thousand tons of hay, 8 thousand tons of silage and 213 thousand tons of compound feed are needed this year for wintering livestock. According to the approved plan, the required volume will be provided through own production of 220 thousand tons of alfalfa, 8 thousand tons of silage, 17 thousand tons of grain fodder, 115 thousand tons of rice flour and harvesting 550 thousand tons of hay in hayfields. In addition, it is planned to procure more than 170 thousand tons of rice straw. The missing volumes of compound feed will be provided through supplies through JS NC Food Contract Corporation and purchases on the free market.

For the procurement of fodder in the region, 114 brigades have been created, more than 1,000 people and more than 170 units are involved. agricultural machinery. An additional 3.8 thousand tons of cheaper diesel fuel was allocated for the organization of work on the procurement of feed. In general, to date, 497 thousand tons of hay have been harvested in the region, which is 65%.

Now active work is underway to supply fodder to the Aral region, which was most affected by the drought. At the moment, 15.1 thousand tons of hay and 845.4 tons of feed have been supplied to the Aral region from other regions of the region, as well as from other regions.

In order to reduce the negative impact of drought, a state of emergency has been declared in the Aral region. 250 million tenge was allocated from the region's reserve, including 49.5 million tenge for the transportation of feed, and 200 million tenge for watering pastures, lake systems, and a watering hole for livestock. In addition, SEC Baikonur provided 100 million tenge to ensure the supply of feed to the region.

Also, work is underway to provide charitable assistance. Thus, support was provided to more than 3,287 low-income families of the Aral region, which were supplied with 860 tons of hay and 740 tons of compound feed.

1.7 billion tenge was allocated from the government's reserve for partial subsidizing of the costs of producers for the purchase of feed. In accordance with the approved financing plan, the funds are planned to be spent by the end of August and the beginning of September.

In the Kostanay region, the harvesting area of ​​the main crops is 4.7 million hectares in the region, of which 4 million 059 thousand hectares of grain and 607 thousand hectares of oilseeds. This was announced by the regional akim Archimed Mukhambetov.

At the moment, harvesting of crops of early sowing dates has begun in the region. Threshed 238 thousand hectares of grain. The yield is low, for today in the region it is 3.3 c / ha. The necessary equipment has been prepared.

“All available equipment has been prepared for the harvesting campaign. The region has been allocated 76 thousand tons of preferential diesel fuel, the delivery is carried out according to the schedule. The allocated volumes are sufficient for carrying out autumn field work,” he reported.

The total storage capacity of agricultural products in the region is 8.3 million tons; these volumes are sufficient for receiving and storing the incoming crop. The material and technical base of grain-receiving enterprises has been prepared for receiving the new harvest.

The regional akimat sent the following proposals to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan to support agricultural producers:

- prolongation at the request of producers, payments on obligations for the forward purchase of agricultural products through Food Contract Corporation JSC, repayment of credit funds, leasing payments to other financial institutions of KazAgro NMH JSC;

- allocation through JSC Food Contract Corporation at a cheaper price of feed grain;

- the allocation of the missing budget subsidies for issuing to agricultural producers in the amount of 5.2 billion tenge, including under investment subsidy programs — 4 billion tenge, reducing the interest rate on loans and leasing of agricultural machinery — 1.2 billion tenge.

According to the akim of the North Kazakhstan region Kumar Aksakalov, this year the area of ​​agricultural crops amounted to 4.3 million hectares.

“Dry summer days have made their significant adjustments and influenced the initial state of crops. However, the past July precipitation and the applied progressive technologies improved the state of the crops. The necessary complex of agrochemical measures has been carried out in full,” he reported.

130 thousand tons of mineral fertilizers were introduced. By the end of the year, another 30 thousand tons will be brought in. Agrarians of the region start harvesting works. The equipment is 100% ready. 80% of fuel and lubricants are provided. The available storage volumes are sufficient for the projected yield.

As the akim of North Kazakhstan region emphasized, the expected volume of gross grain harvest is sufficient to fully meet the internal needs of the region, as well as the sale of certain volumes of grain for export.

89 applications for 18 billion tenge were issued under the forward purchase program. Under favorable weather and climatic conditions, the harvesting campaign will be carried out as scheduled.

In the Akmola region, the sowing campaign was carried out in the optimal agrotechnical terms. Deputy akim Malgazhdar Tatkeyev reported this.

“As a result, the total area of ​​spring sowing amounted to 5 million hectares, which is 180 thousand hectares higher than last year, including grain and leguminous crops sown on an area of ​​4.5 million hectares,” he said.

At present, the region's farmers have carried out a whole range of measures to protect crops against weeds, pests and diseases. The readiness of combine harvesters, windrow headers, mechanized currents and grain dryers is 100% ensured. The harvest will involve 8.5 thousand grain harvesters.

All grain-receiving enterprises are ready to receive the upcoming harvest. Taking into account the grain storage facilities in the farms, an additional opportunity has been created for storing 6.5 million tons of grain. To carry out harvesting operations, the region is provided with the necessary volumes of cheap diesel fuel.

The harvesting of grain crops in the region has begun. Mowed to a dump 57 thousand hectares. The main harvesting of grain and leguminous crops will begin after Aug. 20. Under favorable weather conditions, according to the work plan, it is planned to take place in 26 days.

“This year, state support was provided in the amount of about 70 billion tenge,” Tatkeyev said.

Comprehensive work is being carried out in the region to procure feed. More than 1 million tons of hay, or 87% of the demand, has already been harvested. In addition, 105 thousand tons of haylage or 43% of the plan were harvested. The work on the preparation of coarse and succulent fodder continues.

In general, the region is taking all the necessary measures to fulfill the tasks set for the agro-industrial complex of the region.