The First Vice Minister of Agriculture Arman Yevniev reported on the progress of digitalization of the agro-industrial complex of Kazakhstan at the meeting of the Government chaired by the Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev.

As noted by Arman Yevniev, the goal of digitalization of the agroindustrial complex is to increase productivity and efficiency through the introduction of digital technologies and the engagement of businesses in the development of IT solutions for agriculture.

In order to introduce digital technologies in the agro-industrial complex, the Ministry of Agriculture established a digitalization office.

To date, the following processes have been automated: veterinary and phytosanitary security; grain receipts; system of collection and management of loan applications; accounting of agricultural machinery; accounting livestock, including pedigree; water and land management.

According to the First Deputy Minister Arman Yevniev, out of 101 state services provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, only 62 have been partially automated to date. In the next two years (2018-2019), 89 state services are to be fully automated.

Implementation of digital technologies in the agro-industrial complex will be carried out within the framework of two main tasks: digitalization of state regulation of the AIC and technological re-equipment of the AIC.

Digitalization will be a key tool for the development of four areas of state regulation of the AIC:

• accessibility of financing for AIC entities;
• availability of markets and export development;
• the effectiveness of state control and supervision;
• effective management of aquatic and bioresources.

"In 2017, electronic filing of an application for credit and leasing was realized, control over the timely consideration of the application (25 days) was provided. In the current year, this service will be implemented for instruments of guaranteeing and purchasing agricultural products," Arman Yevniev noted.

In the current year, full automation will be implemented in 10 areas of subsidization, in 2019 — in the remaining areas. This will shorten the time for consideration of applications by an average of 2.5 times (from 18 to 7 days) and reduce corruption risks.

Digitalization will create a new financial instrument for attracting investments in the industry: after the adoption of the relevant legislative act, electronic agrarian (commodity and financial) receipts will be introduced in 2019.

As part of the development of the system in 2018, in order to improve security, the blockchain technology will be introduced, online ordering of grain carriers, online trading, which will allow foreign buyers to purchase grain.

In addition, in 2019, the system of traceability of agricultural products "from field to table" will be launched.

Implementation of electronic commerce in full format in the Ministry of Agriculture is planned for 2020. The preparatory work has already begun: in the current one, a detailed Logistics Map of the AIC will be developed. It will define the existing and necessary for the construction of terminals, storage facilities, warehouses, wholesale distribution centers.

As part of the creation of a national spatial data infrastructure, it is planned to create a Kazakhstani geodetic network and a geoportal for providing public services. The technological re-equipment will create conditions for involving the business in the use of IT technologies, including technologies for precision farming and Smart farms.

Individual enterprises are introducing elements of precision farming today. For example, Atameken Agro JSC in the North-Kazakhstan region implemented electronic maps and performs online monitoring and control of sowing and harvesting works. This reduces unproductive costs and work time, increases productivity. For example, fuel sensors allow you to save from one unit of equipment about one million tenge per season due to reduced losses and theft of fuels and lubricants.

"Digitalization will increase competitiveness and labor productivity, ensure food safety and attract investment in the industry. In general, the economic effect until 2025 will be about 40 billion tenge," Arman Yevniev summed up.

Also, a report on this issue was made by the Minister of Information and Communications Dauren Abayev.

Dauren Abayev noted that by 2021 it is planned to build 19 970 thousand kilometers of fiber-optic communication lines and provide high-speed Internet for more than 1249 rural settlements.

It was also noted that for the introduction of IT in the AIC, a significant acceleration of the penetration of information technologies into the agricultural sector is crucial. One of the most important steps in this direction is the mass training of specialists in digital technologies for agriculture.

Chairman of the Board of KazAgro, Nurlybek Malelov noted in his report that the process of accepting applications from agribusiness entities for obtaining loans and leasing — the project "E-Kazagro" was automated in the holding. In the current year, all types of services provided by the group of companies of the holding will be automated.

In addition, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the MNE, Atameken NCE and Holding KazAgro JSC on the creation of the Unified Digital Platform, which unites all measures of state support for AIC entities on the principle of a "single window". Internal business processes were automated.

Archimedes Mukhambetov, akim of the Kostanay region, Kumar Aksakalov, the North-Kazakhstan region, the deputy director general of the Amiran Plant of the Kazakh Academy of Nutrition, Zhangeldy Abzhapparov, the director of the Atameken Agro JSC, Kental Islamov reported on the progress of digitalization of the agro-industrial complex in the regions.