In Kazakhstan, the total acreage of the current year will be 23.4 million hectares, which is 68.6 thousand hectares more than in 2022. This was announced by the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan Yerbol Karashukeyev during a government meeting.
According to him, it is planned to increase the acreage of grain and leguminous crops by 117 thousand hectares, fodder crops by 36.5 thousand hectares and sugar beet by 6.7 thousand hectares.
"Due to changes in market conditions, a slight reduction in the area of sowing of some oilseeds, such as safflower, soybeans and mustard, is predicted. At the same time, it is planned to increase the area by 30.8 thousand hectares for such a socially significant crop as sunflower," the head of the Ministry of Agriculture noted.
It is planned to increase the area of sowing for vegetable and potato crops by 11.1 thousand hectares.
The Minister noted that the planned areas for grain, vegetable, and potatoes will fully meet the needs of the domestic market.
"As for moisture-intensive crops, this year, compared with last year, a decrease in the area of cotton is projected by 14.8 thousand hectares, which will amount to 111.4 thousand hectares. At the same time, despite the government's instructions to reduce the area of water-intensive crops, there is an increase in the area of rice compared to last year by 7.6 thousand hectares (2023 – 95.4 thousand hectares)," Karashukeev said.
In addition, the head of the Ministry of Agriculture said that one of the important tasks is to carry out measures for the accumulation of moisture in the soil and its rational use.
According to him, in most regions of Kazakhstan in the first half of February, precipitation fell unevenly, in some of them there is a low snow cover. In this regard, it is necessary to continue work on the accumulation and containment of moisture in the soil.
"Precipitation near and above normal took place in the east, south, Atyrau region and in places in the center. Precipitation in the rest of the territory is less than normal. In the west of the republic, the snow cover height as of February 16 ranges from 1-7 cm to 10-37 cm, in the north of the country from 11-22 cm to 26-34 cm, in the center from 8-15 cm to 18-35 cm, in the east from 9-21 cm to 22-99 cm, in mountainous and foothill areas of the southeast mainly from 4-14 cm up to 19-43 cm," Karashukeev informed.