In a stride towards sustainable land management and rural development, Kazakhstan has successfully reclaimed 10 mn hectares of problematic agricultural land that were either unused or illegally issued. This initiative, mandated by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in his address to the people of Kazakhstan, aimed to address land-related challenges and promote the rational use of the country's agricultural resources, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan reported.
The government's commitment to this cause is evident as, by 2023, 2.8 mn hectares have already been redistributed among local farmers and regional residents, fostering community-driven agricultural practices. Simultaneously, the owners of 3.4 mn hectares of previously unused land have commenced development activities, contributing to the overall economic growth of the country.
The Ministry of Agriculture has been at the forefront of implementing the directive, focusing on tasks such as reducing the shortage of pastures around rural settlements. The interactive map, Jerkarta.gharysh.kz, was updated in 2023 to display the locations and areas of the returned agricultural land, offering transparency and accessibility to citizens. Furthermore, data on areas experiencing a shortage of pasture lands have been integrated into the map, providing a comprehensive overview of the region's land use.
To streamline the process of land allocation, the Unified State Real Estate Cadastre (USREC) information system was introduced, enabling the paperless provision of services and automating land plot procedures. This system, operating in the public domain, facilitates users in selecting a site on a public cadastral map and submitting applications for land rights to local executive bodies. Electronic procedures for land allocation have been legislatively introduced in major cities, including Astana, Almaty, and Shymkent.
In a significant leap towards a digitized agricultural landscape, digital agricultural maps have been created, covering 145 mn hectares of agricultural land by the end of 2023. This represents 77% of the total agricultural land area in the country. The government aims to achieve complete digitization of agricultural lands by 2025.
The State Institute for Land Survey Work (GIPROSEM), a newly established state institute, will play a pivotal role in monitoring the quality and rational use of land. The institute will conduct economic assessments, land monitoring, and various soil surveys. Once the digitization process is complete, an open electronic map with detailed soil characteristics and pasture feeding capacities will be made available to the public.
Acknowledging the importance of overseeing the execution of the order, the Zher Amanaty party commission, established under the AMANAT party, played a crucial role in ensuring the transparent and effective redistribution of the returned lands.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Twitter pages to keep current on world news.
Comments (0)