Kazakhstan, South America boost cooperation in agriculture

28 March, 2019 11:31

South America is known as a leading player in the agricultural market, accounting for approximately ten per cent of the world’s agricultural product export, with livestock being an integral part of South American agriculture. So, cooperation with South America in agriculture makes sense for Kazakhstan. To know how this can affect the agriculture sector in Kazakhstan, read the article below.

Ranking the sixth largest wheat producer in the world, Kazakhstan’s agriculture sector contributes as little as 10% to GDP. Nevertheless, over 70% of its land is used for agricultural activities. These days, programmes are drawn up to develop the agro-industrial complex of the country in line with the government policy. With exports of agricultural products playing a key role, the 60% contribution of the total export is seen in Argentina, 44% - in Brazil, 64% - in Uruguay, together, these three countries make 30% of the total number of cattle stock and over half of the total export of meat, which seems a win-win for Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan and three South American countries recently have held discussions focused on developing the interaction in the agricultural sector and the implementation of Kazakhstan’s sectoral program to develop beef husbandry for 2018-2027. Vice Minister of Agriculture Gulmira Issayeva led a delegation to Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay on Mar.20-24, 2019, and met with heads of the Ministry of Agriculture, veterinary services and other authorized bodies of the South American States.

The delegation included representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture’s Committee of Veterinary Control and Supervision, the Ministry of Agriculture’s International Cooperation Department, the Meat Union of Kazakhstan, as well as representatives of the following farms: “Zhake”, “Astana Agroproduct”, “Agroexport LTD”, “Zhana Bereke”, “Altyn Taga”, “SC Food” and Kazakhstan’s Republican Angus Chamber. Negotiations with the largest companies of South America such as Minerva, Mercurio, Agroexport, Estancia del Sur and Brazil’s Livestock Exporters Association took place.

Here is why the discussions ended up positive. Following the meeting, an agreement was reached to collaborate in the agro-industrial complex, including agricultural sciences’ development, transfer of new technologies and advanced practices, thus Kazakhstan seems to step up its cooperation with these South American countries.

Since 1973, the successful operation of Brazil’s EMBRAPA Agricultural Research Corporation, being part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food’s organizational structure, has allowed Brazil to take a leading position in importing soya, meat and sugar cane, coffee. The Corporation has an annual budget of some US $1bn, with government funds making up 80%, and own funds - 20%.

South America is safe in terms of the most dangerous animal diseases, leading the Kazakh delegation to get familiarized with the countries’ experience in foot-and-mouth disease control, with Argentina and Brazil holding FMD-free statuses by the OIE with zones with and without vaccination, while Uruguay is recognized as the country free of FMD with vaccination.

Kazakhstan is also FMD-free with zones without vaccination (9 regions) and zones with vaccination (5 regions), making it possible to trade live livestock and agricultural products between the States with the same statuses by the OIE in terms of FMD in keeping with the WTO requirements. This allowed the Kazakh delegation and veterinary services of Argentina, Brazil, and Uruguay to align bilateral veterinary certificates for breeding and utility cattle.

Author: Adlet Seilkhanov

Photo credit: Ministry of Agriculture

516 joint enterprises with Korean capital run in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan steps up education, partners with Singapore

allnews