Kazakhstan will simplify lending and subsidy procedures
for farmers. The Ministry of Agriculture has announced the launch of an early
financing program for spring fieldwork, which includes the possibility of
providing preferential loans to farmers through social entrepreneurship
corporations. At today’s government meeting, issues related to spring fieldwork
were discussed. This year, agricultural crops are planned to be sown on 28 million
hectares. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov emphasized that special attention
should be given to high-yield and profitable crop varieties. They should
primarily be export-oriented and have high market demand.
«This year, the funding for fieldwork has been
increased to 700 billion tenge. The amount of funds allocated for leasing
services has been raised to 200 billion tenge. Also, over 400,000 tonnes of
subsidized diesel fuel have already been provided. Thus, the government has
taken all necessary measures for the success of sowing operations. It is
crucial to ensure their efficient and well-organized implementation. The
Ministry of Agriculture should allocate preferential loans solely to support
productive and responsible farmers,» Bektenov noted.
According to Bektenov, a separate focus should
be placed on implementing digital solutions in the sector. These technologies
are expected to address several issues, including statistical data in the
agro-industrial complex, accounting for grain stocks and products in
stabilization funds, as well as veterinary safety. AI can be applied to
optimize irrigation, fertilizer and feed usage, and the management of
agricultural machinery. The Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and
Aerospace Industry has also put forward a number of proposals, including
automating processes with the help of chatbot assistants, drones, and
intelligent analysis systems.
«The implementation of these projects is
scheduled for 2025-2026. The following slide showcases an example of a future
AI-powered assistant for agriculture, designed to provide up-to-date
information on government support measures, subsidies, application deadlines,
and required documents. The chatbot will be based on official data from the
Agriculture Ministry, enabling farmers to quickly access the necessary
information around the clock,» said Kazakh Vice Minister of Digital
Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry Dmitry Mun.
Tax Code amendments to be submitted to Mazhilis
by February 20
The government has also introduced amendments
to the country’s tax legislation, proposing an increase in the VAT rate from 12
to 16 percent, with differentiation by industry. To discuss the proposals with
the business community, the government has sent six working groups to the
regions. The draft of the new Tax Code is expected to be submitted to the
Mazhilis, the Lower House of the Kazakh Parliament, by February 20.
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