The gross harvest exceeded 6.6 million tons, with 61% being high-quality wheat. It is important to note that this year the region has reduced the area planted with grains. Last year, 5 million 400 thousand hectares were sown, while this year it is 4 million 700 thousand.
The results of the harvest campaign were summarized at the off-site Coordination Council held at the LLP “NPCZKH named after A. Baraev” last Friday by the region's akim, Marat Akhmetzhanov.
– The rich harvest, cultivated and, most importantly, harvested on time by farmers, once again confirmed the region's status as a hub of agricultural production in the republic. The hard work of field workers deserves immense respect, as their efforts, alongside state support, ensure the food security of the country. The region makes a significant contribution to Kazakhstan's agro-industrial potential, producing more than a quarter of the high-quality grain from the national total, – said the head of the region, welcoming the harvest participants.
The akim noted that the region's success in the harvest is due to the diligent work of farmers and machinists, who worked in two or even three shifts, the proper use of agricultural technologies, and timely state assistance, including the provision of subsidized fuel.
Thus, around 135 billion tenge was allocated for agricultural support in the region this year, of which 46.5 million are subsidies. Under the forward procurement program for agricultural products, commodity loans financed 86 agricultural enterprises for 12.8 billion tenge.
In terms of access to credit resources, the “Kең дала” and “Kең дала-2” preferential crediting programs for spring field and harvest work played a significant role, allowing financing of 563 agricultural enterprises for a total of 48.9 billion tenge. Additionally, channels for providing preferential financing through the SPK “Kokshe” have been expanded.
The choice of the venue for the Coordination Council meeting was not accidental. The LLP “NPCZKH named after A. Baraev,” located in Akmolinsk region, is the center of domestic grain production. However, as the head of the region emphasized, for a long time, farmers and scientists have seemed to operate separately. Scientists developed varieties that were not particularly appealing to farmers. The regional agriculture department also distanced itself from these issues.
The head of the region emphasized that state bodies need to address farmers' problems more promptly and properly set tasks for the scientists at LLP “NPCZKH named after A. Baraev,” especially regarding the development of grain varieties that yield higher harvests in local climatic conditions.
Marat Akhmetzhanov stressed that the work of the government body will undergo a radical restructuring, and existing bureaucratic delays will be reduced to zero. Now, employees of the agriculture department will personally visit the districts to address all pressing issues faced by farmers on-site. According to the akim, farmers should not have to go from office to office with requests and proposals, waiting in the reception areas of department heads. There will also be an increase in accountability for the targeted use of state funds, including personal responsibility for the region's head before the Government.
A notable aspect of the region's Coordination Council was the presence of a veteran, a distinguished farmer, field brigade leader, and Hero of Socialist Labor, Yesilbay Kadralin. The elder received the Hero of Labor star in the past simultaneously with Alexander Baraev himself. This was perhaps a vivid demonstration of how the recommendations of the outstanding scientist on soil protection farming systems were followed during the Soviet era.
The akim expressed immense gratitude to the farmers for their diligence and professionalism. He highlighted that their efforts are the foundation of Kazakhstan's food security and urged agricultural producers to persistently implement new technologies to enhance work efficiency.
With the conclusion of this year's harvest campaign, the region will not rest on its laurels. Some farmers are still continuing the harvest of oilseeds. In the next season, the region plans to increase production volumes, improve storage and processing infrastructure for grain, and strengthen technological support for agriculture.