Kazakhstan has seen a 10.5 thousand hectare increase in the area of vegetable crops over the past three years, reaching 173.5 thousand hectares this year. This growth can be attributed to modern breeding methods and new agricultural technologies that have led to higher average yields. Certain vegetables, such as potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, peppers, beets, and cabbage, meet or exceed internal consumption levels.
"The domestic market in Kazakhstan is more than 80% self-sufficient in fruit and vegetable production, with imports accounting for only 7-16%," the press service of the Ministry of Agriculture reports.
However, there are challenges in ensuring a steady supply of produce during the off-season. To address this issue, the cultivation of early crops is expanded each year, and vegetable production in greenhouses is being promoted. Work is also underway to build the necessary infrastructure for the storage of vegetables and fruits.
Kazakh farmers face tough competition from producers in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, who benefit from lower production costs due to favorable climatic conditions, cheap labor, and reduced taxes and duties. To support Kazakh farmers, the government is increasing subsidies and providing favorable credit terms, resulting in stable growth in vegetable and fruit production.
Source: kapital.kz