On April 29, 2020, a meeting was held between the Chairman of the Board of NASEC Toleutai Rakhimbekov and representatives of the World Bank. The meeting was held in a videoconference call format.

From the NASEC side, the meeting was attended by Deputy Chairman of the Board Rauan Erulanqyzy, director of the department for the dissemination of knowledge Marat Jadayev, director of the dpartment of International cooperation and investment Attraction Dana Borumbayeva.

Participants from World Bank were: Artavazd Hakobyan - the head of the Sustainable Livestock Program, Pierre Gerber - Senior Livestock Specialist, Flavio Forabosco - International Expert on Extensions and Training Management, Roy Benke International Pasture Management Expert, Economist on agriculture Yerlan Syzdykov and specialist on external relations Gulsumkhanum Bayazitova.

      During the meeting, the parties discussed the following agenda: the current situation of preparations for the implementation of the Livestock Sustainability Program by the World Bank, the role of NASEC in the implementation of Indicator 3 of the Program “Farmers are trained and certified in accordance with best practices through an improved advisory system” (100,000 farmers to be trained).  

“Regarding the implementation of Indicator 3 of the Program “Farmers are trained and certified in accordance with best practices through an improved advisory system” by NASEC, it is important to note that our Center with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan is actively involved in the preparatory work of the World Bank on the project of sustainable development of livestock in Kazakhstan. This project aims to promote the development of an environmentally sustainable, inclusive and competitive livestock sector in Kazakhstan. The NASEC plans to train 100,000 farmers in 5 years through the extension system as well as strengthening training programs on the basis of its three agricultural universities (KazNAU, S.Seifullin KazATU, Zhangir Khan West Kazakhstan ATU). Our agricultural scientists annually advise about 3 thousand farmers and conduct more than 100 seminars in various areas of the agricultural sector,” - T. Rakhimbekov noted.

World Bank experts emphasized the key role of the NASEC in implementing the Sustainable Livestock Development Program, in view of the Center’s vast experience in transferring knowledge among farmers on the basis of Knowledge Centers, as well as the scientific base of the agricultural sector of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

     At the end of the meeting, the parties agreed to continue cooperation in the implementation of the Sustainable Livestock Development Program and to inform about the progress of the work.