Mass harvesting in Kazakhstan begins

Mass harvesting has begun in all regions of Kazakhstan, Minister of Agriculture Yerbol Karashukeyev said at a government meeting. According to him, 2.4 million hectares of grain and leguminous crops have been harvested to date. The average yield stands at 11.5 centners per hectare, he said. As a result, 2.8 million tonnes of grain were milled. This year, the total harvested area of ​​agricultural crops is expected to reach 24 million hectares. Of these, more than 17 million are grain harvesting areas.

 

“In terms of crops, including socially important ones, the wheat harvesting area amounts to 13.7 million hectares, of which 1.5 million hectares have been harvested with a yield of 11.8 centners per hectare. A total of 1.8 million tonnes of grain were milled. 34,000 hectares of oilseeds have been harvested with a yield of 6.9 centners per hectare, while 2.8 million more hectares are to be harvested. 458,000 tonnes of potatoes have been harvested with a yield of 208.9 centners per hectare, and another 188,300 hectares will be necessary to harvest. The total vegetable harvesting area is 164,800 hectares,” Karashukeyev said.

 

The minister assured that this year’s harvest will cover the needs of the domestic market, whereas surplus products will be exported. He noted that some farmers faced the problem of drought this year. They will have their expenses covered, loans extended, and subsidies paid as soon as possible. These and other assistance measures were outlined by Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister.

 

“We all know that the summer was dry, and a number of regions have been affected. There will be less crops to harvest. Several actions were taken rapidly to mitigate the effects of drought, including funds allocated from the government’s reserve. The Baiterek national holding company should work out the issue of prolonging and restructuring debts on loans to the farmers affected by drought. In general, the situation is under control. The harvest is definitely enough,” Alikhan Smailov noted.