KAZAKHSTAN EXPORTED $32 MILLION ORGANIC PRODUCTS
May 19, 2022
According to the National Chamber, the demand for Kazakhstani organic products almost doubled in the world over the past year. Exports amounted to 32 million dollars. Leading positions are occupied today by organic flax. The industry experts expect support from the state to increase production.
The National Chamber, within the framework of the ORGANIC project office, held the first open meeting, bringing together industry experts and entrepreneurs, representatives of government bodies, international organizations.
Director of the Department for the Development of the Agro-Industrial Complex of the NCE, Yerbol Yeseneev, spoke about the potential of Kazakhstan in organic farming. According to him, today more than 300 hectares of land are occupied by this direction of the economy.
“In 2021, organic products worth $32 million were exported from the country ($15 million in 2019; $10 million in 2020). The main products are organic flax, wheat, soybeans, sunflower, lentils. Sunflower oil, vodka and honey are exported in small quantities,” Yerbol Yeseneyev said.
In addition, the expert noted that the constraining factors are the high cost of international certification, insufficient government support, lack of knowledge and experience in the production and sale of organic crops.
To address these systemic issues, the MOA, Qazaq Organic Union, UNION Atameken, and industry representatives approved the project office work plan for 2022. The plans include the development of a draft roadmap for the development of organics, the opening of a new market, including the development of the Chinese direction, the improvement of the legislative framework, the creation of a system of joint guarantees PGS-Kazakhstan, training, scientific, technological and educational support, consideration of financial support instruments, and resolution of issues of subsidizing costs organic producers.
At the meeting, representatives of the MOA, USAID, FAO, UN Development Program, Agricultural Policy Dialogue (APD), entrepreneurs and researchers shared their suggestions and comments.