Kazakhstan remains dependent on seed imports. The country's annual seed demand is 2 million tons for grain and leguminous crops, 87 thousand tons for oilseeds, 23 thousand tons for forage crops and 289 thousand tons for potatoes. 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 Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Plant Growing 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 KazNIIZiR have created more than 650 varieties and hybrids, of which 206 have already been zoned.
In October 2023, a center for the production of high-quality seeds was opened at the KazNIIZiR. Here, seeds undergo a five-stage cleaning and calibration.
This year, construction of a production facility for sorting and thermal processing of seeds on Swedish ThermoSeed equipment will also begin. It is planned to introduce organic seed processing methods.
The volume of production of elite seeds this year will be increased by 4.5-5 times due to the merger of the former Agropark Ontustik LLP with the Institute of Land Resources. Every year, 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.