Kazakhstan to increase production and export of agricultural products.

Minister of Agriculture of RK Saparkhan Omarov, speaking at the 32nd session of the FAO Regional Conference for Europe and Central Asia, said that Kazakhstan continues to actively supply agricultural products to neighboring markets, despite the pandemic. In the future, the republic intends to actively develop the export of processed and organic agricultural products. This was reported at the FAO representative office following the conference.

For 8 months of this year, Kazakhstan delivered more than $1.3 billion worth of agricultural products to the markets of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states alone. According to FAO, in 2019 alone, Kazakhstan, through the export of its wheat and flour, fed more than 45 million people in the world. In addition, during the pandemic, Kazakhstan sent more than 10 thousand tons of wheat flour as humanitarian assistance to the countries of Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, 5 thousand tons each).

At the same time, Saparkhan Omarov stressed that despite the very difficult situation in connection with the pandemic, Kazakhstan sets the task of increasing the production of agricultural products and food products, taking into account the increasing demand from neighboring countries.

Currently, with the support of FAO, the Concept of a new State Program for the Development of the Agro-Industrial Complex is being developed. The issues of affordable financing, land relations, the development of agricultural science, the digitalization of the industry, veterinary and phytosanitary safety, the production of organic products, as well as issues of developing the export potential of not only raw materials, but also ready for food consumption, will be worked out.

Also in his speech, the head of the Ministry of Agriculture touched on the issue of food quality. Kazakhstan has great opportunities for the development of organic agriculture. Official data from the European Commission at the end of the 2018-2019 season show that among the 123 countries exporting organic products to the member countries of the European Union, Kazakhstan is in 9th place. In terms of organic wheat, Kazakhstan ranks 4 among the exporting countries in the EU and 6th in oil flax seeds.

The FAO Regional Conference for Europe is the Organization's highest governing body for the Europe and Central Asia region. The event is attended by Ministers of Agriculture and other delegates from 53 FAO member countries and one Associated Organization (European Union), as well as representatives of civil society and the private sector. The Conference discusses topical issues related to food and agriculture in the region and identifies priorities for FAO activities in the region. The regional conference is held every two years.