In Kazakhstan, as of June 5, 17.9 million hectares are sown (cereals, vegetables, fodder, oilseeds, potatoes, sugar beets and cotton). The total sown area this year is planned to be 23.8 million hectares.
The day before, Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov discussed the sowing season at a meeting in the Pavlodar region. Work in the region is planned to be completed by June 15. Due to the expansion of oilseed and fodder crops, the sown area has been increased by 20 thousand hectares and will amount to 1.7 million hectares, the press service of the Ministry of Agriculture reported.
“The region is fully supplied with seeds in the amount of 175 thousand tons. About 17 thousand agricultural machinery are involved. The shipment of cheaper diesel fuel is on schedule in sufficient quantities. 27 thousand tons of mineral fertilizers were purchased,” said regional akim Asain Baykhanov.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, 376 thousand tons of preferential diesel fuel were allocated for spring field work throughout the country; 274.4 thousand tons (73%) were shipped to the regions. In May, changes were made to the rules for the distribution of diesel fuel, which eliminated uniform basic fuel consumption standards by type of crop and per hectare. If previously the standards for grain crops were 15 liters per 1 hectare, now they will average 17-18 liters. These changes will take effect when distributing diesel fuel for this year’s harvesting work.
An advance subsidization mechanism for the purchase of fertilizers has also been introduced, which provides for an increased 60% subsidy standard for domestic fertilizers. At the same time, the issue of providing installment plans has been worked out with domestic manufacturers.
“To date, unprecedented measures have been taken to support agricultural producers. For the first time, on behalf of the Prime Minister, additional funds in the amount of up to 400 billion tenge have been allocated for spring field and harvesting work. To date, applications have been received from 687 agricultural producers. To ensure additional volumes of preferential lending, the ministry provides for changes to the existing subsidizing mechanisms. Firstly, farmers receive a loan at a preferential rate of no more than 5%, and secondly, to improve the situation with collateral for loans, a guarantee mechanism is provided in the amount of 85% of the loan agreement amount,” said Aidarbek Saparov.