Aidarbek Saparov, the Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, emphasized the pivotal role of seed production in agricultural yield during his address at the Agro Business Forum, the Ministry of Agriculture reported. Held as part of a meeting of agricultural ministers of the Member States OTS, the event convened in Taraz with the primary focus on fostering collaboration among nations for the advancement of seed production.
Saparov underscored that seeds impact crop yield, constituting up to 40% of the yield equation. To address this, Kazakhstan has embarked on systematic efforts to bolster the seed industry's development. In line with directives from the head of state, a comprehensive plan for the enhancement of selection and seed production of agricultural crops spanning 2024-2028 has been drafted. This plan entails legislative and regulatory framework enhancements alongside upgrades to the material and technical infrastructure of entities involved in selection and seed production.
Legislative amendments, such as those to the law "On the Protection of Breeding Achievements," are underway to align regulations with international standards, including the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants. The law "On Seed Production" is also being revised to facilitate industry growth.
Government support measures include subsidies for the procurement of original and elite seeds, as well as assistance for acquiring breeding and seed equipment. Saparov highlighted the increase in compensation share from 25% to 50% in 2023, extending subsidies not only to domestically produced seeds but also to those imported. Budgetary subsidies for seeds in 2023 amounted to KZT 16.5bn ($36.6mn), resulting in a rise in the share of elite seeds from 5.2% to 7.1%.
Expressing Kazakhstan's eagerness for productive collaboration in seed production development, Saparov envisioned the dialogue platform as instrumental in fostering connections with businesses, NGOs, and investors to explore emerging trends and business prospects in the agro-industrial complex.
The 8th Congress of Seeds, organized by the Association of Ecosa and Tsüab, attracted 75 companies to Kazakhstan, marking the event's first occurrence outside Turkey. Ecosa, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting seed producers and technological advancements in agriculture, aims to facilitate seed trade among member nations of the Economic Cooperation Organization.
Tsüab, representing one of Turkey's largest professional associations, has been instrumental in seed selection, registration, and market promotion since the 1920s.
Deputy Chairman of the board of the National Agrarian Scientific Educational Center (NASEC), Damir Kaldybaev, also contributed to the event, highlighting research initiatives aimed at bolstering domestic selection and seed production. Kaldybaev emphasized the importance of scaling new varieties, effective marketing strategies, and agricultural services provision for enhancing competitiveness.
Proposals to transform NASEC into a vertically integrated agricultural technological hub, as per instructions from Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, involve the establishment of the QAZAQ TUQYM consortium. Comprising 11 subsidiaries from seven regions of Kazakhstan, the consortium aims to expedite variety testing and selection, ultimately elevating Kazakhstan's seed production sector to unprecedented levels of efficiency and accuracy.
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