Today over 21% of total cultivated area harvested in Kazakhstan — Ministry of Agriculture 

At the government session chaired by Prime Minister Askar Mamin, the progress of harvesting in 2020 was considered. The Minister of Agriculture Saparkhan Omarov reported on the beginning of the harvesting, the Minister of Energy Nurlan Nogayev reported on the supply of fuels and lubricants. Akims of Akmola region Yermek Marzhikpaev, of Kostanay region — Archimed Mukhambetov, North Kazakhstan region — Kumar Aksakalov, Karaganda region — Zhenis Kassymbek reported on the current situation in the regions of the country.

According to statistical data, the total sown area of ​​agricultural crops, including amounted to 22.7 million hectares, which is 439.2 thousand hectares more compared to 2019. Cereals and leguminous crops are located on an area of ​​15.8 million hectares, oilseeds — 2.9 million hectares, vegetables, melons and potatoes — 457.4 thousand hectares, cotton — 125.8 thousand hectares, sugar beets — 20.9 thousand hectares, forage crops — 3.3 million hectares.

As the minister noted, harvesting operations in the country started on time, while the pace of the harvesting is higher than last year. So, to date, more than 3.3 million hectares of grain and leguminous crops, or 21.2% of their total harvested area, have been harvested in the republic, while last year, 2.1 million hectares, or 14%, were harvested on the same date.

“With an average yield of 13.5 c / ha, 4.5 million tons of grain have been threshed. As you know, the summer season of this year, like the last, is characterized by severely arid conditions. Despite the state of emergency and quarantine, the sowing campaign was carried out at the optimum time. Qualitative and timely measures for moisture closure and pre-sowing soil cultivation contributed to the preservation of the available productive soil moisture,” said Omarov. 

Also, the measures taken by the state to support seed production influenced the increase in the resistance of agricultural crops to adverse weather conditions. Thus, compared to last year, subsidies for seed production increased by 49%. The mechanism of subsidies has been improved, according to which the costs of purchasing demanded seeds of foreign selection are subsidized, and also support is provided to elite semkhozes for the purchase of original seeds for subsequent reproduction.

“We have introduced investment subsidies for all types of seed cleaning and breeding equipment, which will contribute to the development of domestic seed production. So, as a result of the measures taken during the sowing, the proportion of sown elite seeds increased almost 2 times. At the same time, the share of low-quality seeds decreased 2.8 times,” the minister said.

At the same time, to date, a set of necessary measures has been taken to protect plants and fertilize crops. In this year 26.1 billion tenge were allocated to subsidize the purchase of fertilizers, which will subsidize the purchase of about 522 thousand tons of mineral fertilizers, or 20% of the scientifically grounded norm

 “At the moment, farmers have purchased 493 thousand tons of fertilizers, which is already 5% more than last year. At the same time, it should be noted that shipment continues, and certain volumes will be brought in for autumn plowing. Of the fertilizers purchased by agricultural producers, 292 thousand tons or 60% are domestic fertilizers,” Omarov said.

In general, the level of fertilization over the past 5 years has doubled — from 10.1% to 22% of the scientific need. At the same time, given that the use of fertilizers directly affects the quality and productivity of agricultural products. Also, timely measures were taken for the chemical treatment of crops against pests and diseases. Timely localization of foci of spread of herd and non-herding pests made it possible to avoid the catastrophic consequences of invasions observed in the world. Biological efficiency was 80-92%. At the same time, in recent years, there has been a decrease in the area of ​​processing for especially dangerous pests by 2.3 times, for diseases of grain by 1.8 times.

“In the current year 37 billion tenge is provided for subsidizing pesticides, which is 9.6 billion tenge more than in 2019. To date, about 17 million hectares or 75% of the total sown area have been treated,” Omarov said.

By the start of harvesting, agricultural producers prepared all the necessary equipment. In general, there are 145 thousand tractors, 75 thousand tractor trailers, 38 thousand grain harvesters, 15 thousand reapers, 39 thousand trucks for harvesting 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 enhance their field service, as well as to fill warehouses with the necessary spare parts.

“395 thousand tons of cheaper fuel and lubricants have been allocated for the timely implementation of the harvesting works of agricultural producers. The July volumes are fully selected by the regions. The volumes for August were paid for by 55%, 26% were shipped,” Omarov noted.

As you know, ensuring the country's food security is one of the priority tasks, including taking into account the situation associated with the coronavirus pandemic. The measures taken, despite the unfavorable weather conditions of this year, together allow us to expect the volume of grain production at the level of last year. It should be noted that the projected production volumes of agricultural crops will fully meet the country's domestic demand.

In addition, within the framework of the instructions of the Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in 2020, The Food Corporation made a forward purchase of agricultural products, thanks to which the volume of grain supplies to the resources of the Food Corporation in the amount of 517 thousand tons was contracted.

At the same time, the Food Contract Corporation already has a reserve stock of grain in the amount of 456.4 thousand tons. The specified volumes of grain, if necessary, will be directed to the domestic market in order to stabilize it and ensure food safety.

“The total grain storage capacity 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 volume of storage capacity is sufficient to store the projected yield, taking into account the carry-overs of the past years,” Omarov informed.

At the same time, akimats need to constantly monitor the preparation of elevators for the acceptance of the 2020 harvest, and also keep under constant control the issue of ensuring the uninterrupted movement of grain from fields to elevators, taking into account the possible strengthening of quarantine measures.

“Of the harvested amount (18 million tons), 3.5 million tons will be used for food purposes, 4.2 million tons — for fodder, 2.1 million tons — for seed purposes, and 700 thousand tons for industrial processing. The projected volume of the harvest will also allow shipping certain volumes for export. At the same time, this year's export strategy will not differ from last year's and will be characterized by the preservation of dominant positions in traditional markets. The export potential for the 2020/2021 marketing year will be about 7.5-8 million tons, including flour,” the minister explained.

As Omarov emphasized, the primary task at present 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 north-eastern part of the republic, the amount of precipitation in September is expected to exceed the norm. 

Minister of Energy of Kazakhstan Nurlan Nogayev reported on the supply of diesel fuel to agricultural producers for the autumn field work in 2020. For carrying out autumn field work in tg. the need for agricultural producers in the amount of 395 thousand tons was approved. As of August 21 of this year, 26.9% have been fulfilled. 106.2 thousand tons were shipped out of the planned 395 thousand tons, including:

  • 92.7% or 69.2 thousand tons shipped in July against the plan of 74.6 thousand tons;
  • in August, shipped by 25.9% or 37 thousand tons with the plan of 142.7 thousand tons;

According to the approved schedule, it is planned to ship 140.8 thousand tons in September, and 36.8 thousand tons in October. 

The shipment is made in accordance with the payment.

The proposed price of diesel fuel for the autumn field work in 2020 will be 178 thousand tenge per ton at the plant, including value added tax, or 147 tenge per liter. The approximate price for agricultural production plant, taking into account supplies and storage, can be 155-169 tenge per liter, depending on the distance from the refinery. The cost of a gas station is from 178 to 193 tenge per liter.

“The cheap cost of diesel fuel for the needs of agriculture is determined by agreement with the participants of the market of fuels and lubricants,” Nogayev said.

Akim of Akmola region Yermek Marzhikpaev reported that in this year the harvesting area of ​​agricultural crops in the region is 5 million hectares, including grains and legumes — 4.4 million hectares (higher than the level of 2019 by 17.4 thousand hectares), oil crops — over 210 thousand hectares, potatoes — about 16 thousand hectares (87 hectares higher) and vegetables — 3.5 thousand hectares (55 hectares higher than last year), fodder — 181 thousand hectares. More than 8 thousand combine harvesters take part in the harvest, including modern high-performance over 3.5 thousand, as well as 2.5 thousand reapers (in 2020, 67 combine harvesters, 219 tractors, 41 seeding complexes were purchased). 

“To date, 654 thousand hectares of grain and leguminous crops have been threshed (14.8% of the sown area), the yield is 9.4 centners / ha. 65 grain-receiving enterprises with a total storage capacity of 4.2 million tons are ready to receive grain from the new harvest. In general, taking into account the grain storage facilities of agricultural formations, there is an opportunity to store more than 6.6 million tons of grain,” Marzhikpaev said.

For the autumn field work, 73 thousand tons of guaranteed diesel fuel were allocated.

In turn, Akim of the Kostanay region Archimed Mukhambetov informed that the harvesting area of ​​grain in the region is 4 million 051 thousand hectares. Oilseeds 640.5 thousand hectares, which is 130.4 thousand hectares more than last year. Over the past 4 years, within the framework of diversification, the area of ​​oilseeds has been increased by 289 thousand hectares. Since Aug. 10, the farms have started harvesting, today they threshed 591.4 thousand hectares of grain, or 14.7%.

“This year, financing of agricultural formations has increased significantly. 29.3 billion tenge was received for carrying out spring field and harvesting works. 22.5 billion tenge was allocated through Agrarian Credit Corporation JSC, which is 8.9 billion more than last year. Including 3.2 billion tenge received under the program of the economy of simple things" said Mukhambetov.

The entire existing combine fleet — 9.1 thousand cars — is involved in harvesting operations. AgromashHolding KZ JSC provides significant support in increasing the technical equipment of regional commodity producers. During 2019-2020, the enterprise produced 445 Esil combines. Producers are provided with fuel and lubricants, the allocated volumes are sufficient.

“There are 8.2 million tons of storage capacities for products. Over the past 3 years, storage capacities for 950 thousand tons have been additionally introduced in the region, 44 drying units with a total capacity of 53 thousand tons of grain per day have been purchased. These capacities are sufficient for timely processing, drying and storage of grown products. In general, all work is carried out in a regular mode,” said the akim of Kostanay region.

Akim of the North Kazakhstan region Kumar Aksakalov said that today 14.7% of grain and legumes have been harvested. Productivity is 14 centners per hectare. Oilseeds are harvested on an area of ​​more than 22.5 thousand hectares. Productivity — 9 centners per hectare. The average daily threshing output in the region will be 160-170 thousand hectares, or more than 4-4.5% of the total area.

“Harvesting works will be carried out on an area of ​​4.2 million hectares. As part of the import substitution program, buckwheat crops have been increased 2.5 times (from 1.7 to 4.2 thousand hectares), by a third — peas (from 41 to 54 thousand hectares),” Aksakalov noted.

To obtain a stable harvest, the region's agrarians have applied 100 thousand tons of mineral fertilizers; by the end of the year, it is planned to add about 30 thousand tons more.

Equipment readiness — 100%. By the beginning of the harvesting campaign, 1,480 units of equipment were purchased for 35 billion tenge. This, in comparison with last year, is 20% more in quantitative and 1.5 times — in monetary terms.

“There are no problems with fuel and lubricants. More than 75 thousand tons of cheaper diesel fuel were allocated. Granaries for 6.6 million tons fully cover the needs of the region to preserve the harvest. In general, all the necessary measures were carried out in a timely manner and in full, which will allow carrying out harvesting work in the optimal time frame,” Aksakalov said.

Akim of the Karaganda region Zhenis Kassymbek informed that the harvesting area of ​​grain is 896 thousand hectares, including wheat — 682.8 thousand hectares, potatoes — 15.4 thousand hectares, vegetables — 3 thousand hectares and oilseeds — 23.2 thousand hectares.

“Today the condition of 67% of grain crops is good, 27.5% is satisfactory, 3% is poor (27.3 thousand hectares) and as a result of severe hail in early August, 2.5% (21.3 thousand hectares) died. By the development phase: 1.1% (9.6 thousand hectares) are in the dairy phase, 34.2% (306.6 thousand hectares) are dairy-wax, 54.5% (488.8 thousand hectares) in the wax phase and 10.2% (91.1 thousand hectares) in full ripeness,” Kassymbek said.

As of Aug. 25, 2020, threshed 72.9 thousand hectares (8.1%), compared to last year more by 14 thousand hectares. With an average yield of 10 centners per hectare, 72.6 thousand tons of grain have been threshed. In total, 2,345 combine harvesters are involved in harvesting.

Concessional diesel fuel allocated for the autumn field work is selected according to the schedule. In general, in the region there are enough containers for storing the required volume of grain. Work on the preparation of grain dryers is nearing completion. Harvesting issues are constantly monitored.

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