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The Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan has announced a landmark achievement in the country's agricultural sector, with oilseed production projected to reach an unprecedented 5 million tons this season. During a government session, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Azat Sultanov reported that the harvesting campaign is nearing completion, with 23 million tons of grain already threshed and 96% of the grain and leguminous crop areas cleared. Most notably, oilseed production has demonstrated exceptional growth, with current volumes 2.5 times higher than those recorded during the same period last year.
In the first nine months of the current year, gross agricultural output rose by 5.8%, reaching 7.3 trillion tenge. This expansion was fueled by a 7.6% increase in crop production (4 trillion tenge) and a 3.5% rise in livestock farming (3.2 trillion tenge). Regional performance exceeded national averages in five key areas, including Kostanay, North Kazakhstan, and Akmola. Despite challenging climatic conditions and a strategic reduction in wheat cultivation area by 1.8 million hectares, the total grain harvest is expected to exceed long-term averages, with high quality reported: over 72% of wheat delivered to elevators is classified as grade three.
The oilseed sector has shown the most robust momentum. To date, 3.7 million tons of oilseeds have been harvested, compared to just 1.4 million tons in the previous year. 'Based on the harvest results, a record oilseed yield is expected — over 5 million tons,' Sultanov emphasized. This surge in raw material supply coincides with a significant uptick in the processing sector, where vegetable oil production has increased by 25.2% and overall food production value has grown by 13.8% to reach 3.2 trillion tenge.
To support these yields, the government structured 750 billion tenge in financing for seasonal field operations. This includes 350 billion tenge for preferential leasing aimed at modernizing the agricultural machinery fleet, which has successfully reduced equipment wear-and-tear from 80% to 65%. Additionally, fertilizer application increased from 1.8 to 2.1 million tons this year, and water-saving technologies were expanded across an additional 160,000 hectares.
On the logistics and trade front, grain exports reached 1.1 million tons by the end of September, a 13% increase compared to 2025. The livestock sector also continues its development under a comprehensive plan, with 150 billion tenge in preferential loans available for expanding dairy and meat production. To date, 71 dairy farms with a capacity of over 460,000 tons have been commissioned. These integrated efforts in production, quality control, and logistics are expected to drive a 6% growth in gross industrial output for the sector by the end of the year.
Source: Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan