The Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Plant Growing intends to increase the production of elite seeds by 4.5-5 times in 2025, the APK News agency reports.
This became known during a meeting that was held today at the National Agrarian Scientific and Educational Center. It was devoted to the development of selection and seed production in the agricultural sector.
As noted by the Chairperson of the Board of the Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Plant Growing (KazNIIZiR) Sholpan Bastaubaeva, the annual demand for seeds is 2 million tons for grain and leguminous crops, 87 thousand tons for oilseeds, 23 thousand tons for forage and 289 thousand tons for potatoes. However, Kazakhstan still remains dependent on seed imports, which poses a threat to the country's food security.
To solve this problem, the Government of Kazakhstan approved the Comprehensive Plan for the Development of Selection and Seed Production for 2024-2028. There are already 284 certified producers of original and elite seeds in the country, and 27 specialized institutions are engaged in selection.
“The leading role in this work is played by KazNIIZR, which is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. The institute is engaged in the creation of competitive varieties and hybrids resistant to stress factors, as well as the development of organic farming. Scientists of the institute have created more than 650 varieties and hybrids, of which 206 have already been zoned,” the press service of the NASEC reported.
The research institute pays special attention to cooperation with elite seed farms. For example, in the Almaty region, four out of nine such farms interact with KazNIIZR, including “KKh “Ivan”” and TOO “Budan”. However, as experts noted, many farms still do not update varieties or purchase seeds of unknown origin. To solve this problem, the institute annually creates demonstration sites for training farmers and introducing new technologies.
An important step was the opening of a center for the production of high-quality seeds at the KazNIIZiR in October 2023. Here, seeds undergo a five-stage cleaning and calibration. In addition, this year, construction of a production facility for sorting and thermal treatment of seeds on Swedish ThermoSeed equipment will begin. It is also planned to introduce organic seed treatment methods, including the use of natural compounds such as mustard powder and thyme oil.
“The volume of production of elite seeds this year will increase by 4.5-5 times due to the annexation of the former Agropark Ontustik LLC to the land resources institute,” the NANOC also reported.
It is noted that annually KazNIIZiR produces and sells more than 1,500 tons of grain crop seeds, 300 tons of grain forage and 100 tons of leguminous crops, as well as seeds of corn, safflower and forage crops.