Measures for further development of livestock were considered at the Government session, chaired by Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov.

Minister of Agriculture Yerbol Karashukeyev reported that currently the share of livestock accounts for about 40% of gross agricultural production of the republic. Analysis shows that the industry is developing at a stable pace. The number of all types of livestock is steadily growing. Only for 2022 the number of cattle increased by 4.2%, sheep by 4.8%, horses by 10.5%, camels by 6.5% and birds by 4%.

In parallel, the qualitative indicators of livestock development are growing. In particular, the average milk yield increased by 4,7%, also there is an increase of slaughter weight of sheep by 8,6%, egg laying hens by 17,2%. As a whole by results of 2022 the production volume of livestock products has increased by 0.9%, and by 3.6% within 5 months of this year.

The existing measures of state support allowed to maintain the investment attractiveness of the livestock industry. Last year the volume of investments increased by 67% and reached 117,5 billion tenge. A total of 102 investment projects were implemented. In this case, the largest volume of investments accounted for the construction of dairy farms. Thus, in 2022 there were launched 36 dairy farms with capacity of 52,4 thousand tons of milk. In addition, 7 poultry farms with a total capacity of 41.9 thousand tons of poultry meat per year were commissioned. 

This year 100 billion tenge were allocated from the state budget to realize large investment projects on experience of Northern Kazakhstan region. As a result it is planned to create 65 small farms with production capacity of 373 thousand tons of milk per year that will reduce dependence of import of the republic from 39% to 11%.

Within the framework of instructions of the Head of the state the work on further perfection of mechanism of subsidizing of cattle breeding was conducted. Taking into account the comments of supervisory bodies, the norms containing corruption risks were excluded from the rules of subsidizing. At the same time, work on reforming the veterinary system is carried out.

The akims of West Kazakhstan region Nariman Turegaliyev, of Turkestan region Darkhan Satybaldy, of Pavlodar region Assain Baykhanov also reported on the development of livestock in the regions.

Prime Minister stressed that livestock is one of the backbone and traditional sectors of agriculture in Kazakhstan. In this regard, the state provides it with significant support. In particular, to increase the number of cattle and production of livestock products, about 108 billion tenge is provided this year.

"These measures have a positive impact on the dynamics of growth of livestock and poultry, production of livestock products. As a consequence, we have seen an increase of investments in this sector by 67% in the past year," Alikhan Smailov said.

He added that the dependence on imports for a number of socially important livestock products was reduced significantly. Thus, imports of milk and poultry meat decreased from 45% to 39%, from 51% to 32%.

However, to increase the share of domestic production of livestock products and ensure food security a number of problematic issues must be resolved. For example, as regards feed production. 

According to the Head of Government, the work to increase the proportion of fodder crops in the crop rotation, especially on irrigated land, is not carried out in due measure. He also noted that Kazakhstan for a long time can not get the status of the World Organization for Animal Health as a country free from FMD.

"This work was planned to be completed in May this year, but it was not done in time. Therefore, approval from the international organization has not been received. This does not allow us to expand the geography of supplies of domestic livestock products, to stimulate its production," Alikhan Smailov pointed out.

According to the Prime Minister, this shows the insufficient work of the veterinary service. 

"It is necessary to reformat and reload its activities taking into account the best international practices," he said. 

The Head of Government added that there are also questions about the methodology of formation of indicators of the industry. According to the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms, the data in official sources diverge by 20% on average.

"It is in order to solve this problem that an agricultural census should be conducted," Alikhan Smailov stressed. 

In addition, as noted by the Prime Minister, Kazakhstan has significant potential for the development of processing of wool and leather, so it is necessary to increase the production of products with higher redistribution.

Summing up, the Head of Government instructed to expand the share of fodder crops in crop rotation, to develop a road map for reforming the veterinary system, taking into account international experience and digitalization, as well as to prepare a road map for the agricultural census.

At the same time, Alikhan Smailov identified the need to develop a set of measures and an algorithm to increase the processing of domestic livestock products, as well as to obtain the status of a country free of FMD by the end of this year.

#Alikhan Smailov #The Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan #Agriculture #Ministry of Agriculture