From GPS trackers to smart farms: how modern technologies attract young people to villages in the Karaganda region

Digital technologies are being actively introduced into the agro-industrial complex of the Karaganda region. Today, shepherds no longer need to wander the steppes in search of a herd: just look at your smartphone to find out where their cattle graze. Smart agricultural technologies are becoming reliable assistants to farmers, facilitating labor and increasing production efficiency.

Digital solutions have made work more productive, life more comfortable, and the countryside more attractive to young professionals.

GPS in animal husbandry

GPS trackers on horseback are an innovation that has quickly taken root in the farms of the region. More and more horse farmers are using smart devices to monitor the movement of animals and monitor their condition on pastures.

A tiny GPS sensor is attached to the neck or mane of the animal. It is powered by solar energy and transmits precise coordinates via a satellite network. It is enough to open a special application on the phone — and the farmer sees the location of the entire herd on the map in real time.

According to agricultural specialists, GPS trackers not only help to find missing horses, but also allow you to track their physical activity and well-being. Some devices have built-in temperature and motion sensors. If the animal does not move for a long time, the system automatically sends a notification to the owner. This is especially important for breeding farms, where each individual counts.

— The first version of our app was very simple: it only displayed the location and route of the horses. Later, farmers suggested adding a wind map, as animals often follow the direction of the wind. We have implemented this feature. Today, the system includes topographic and satellite maps, predicts the movement of the herd and allows you to set a geofence — the boundaries of the pasture. If the horse leaves a given territory, the farmer receives a signal," says Miras Baizhigit, an IT specialist in the agricultural sphere.

Azamat Gazizuly, the head of the Zhankutty farm from the Aktogay district, notes that new technologies have significantly facilitated their work.:

—Previously, you had to ride around the steppeon a horseormotorcycle.Nowjustlookat the phonescreenand you can seewhere the horses are grazing.Thissavesbothtimeandfuel.And most importantly, cases of cattletheft have almostdisappeared.

Soon, the region plans to introduce chips invisible under the skin. Such devices will allow law enforcement agencies to quickly track the path of stolen cattle. Even if the animal is slaughtered, the chip's data will retain information about the time and place of the incident.

Technology in the fields

Shakhterskoye farmin the Nuradistrict has becomeoneof the leaders of digitalagriculturein the region.Here, allstages—fromtillagetoharvesting—areunder the control of an automatedcenter.

— Tractors and combines with GPS navigation and autopilot are working in our fields. This reduces fuel consumption and eliminates unnecessary ground passes. With the help of drones, we monitor the condition of crops, identify the appearance of weeds and pests. Previously, yields were predicted by eye, but now they are predicted using sensors and satellite maps. If there is not enough moisture, we start additional watering. The harvest has grown noticeably," says Georgy Prokop, head of the farm.

The farm actively uses the analytical platforms Agro Data and Cropio, which collect and analyze data on weather, soil moisture and plant growth dynamics.

— During the sowing season, farmers see the air temperature and soil moisture online, and control fuel and fertilizer consumption. This increased productivity and reduced costs by 10-15%. All equipment is connected to a single system: each tractor and combine is tracked by GPS, and the volume of work is recorded automatically. Thanks to this, we were able to build a transparent and fair remuneration system," said Didar Akishev, chief agronomist of the farm.

The Naydorovskoye farm from the Osakarov district also clearly demonstrates the advantages of technology. The Austrian wheat variety is grown here on 550 hectares, treating the fields with innovative Nourivit fertilizers developed by Austrian specialists. These fertilizers enrich the soil with microorganisms, improve air and moisture permeability. The result is a high yield, which is in demand on the European market. Wheat is exported to Italy and Austria.

Smart farms

The region's first "smart" dairy farm is successfully operating in the village of Kobetey, Nura district. Built in just two years, it produces up to 30 tons of milk from 1,100 cows daily.

— The farm is fully automated. The systems not only control the milking process, but also monitor the condition of each cow — temperature, pulse, diet, activity. All information is sent to the central control panel. We have implemented the European DairyComp technology, which generates electronic profiles of animals and records all indicators in real time," says the head of the enterprise, Zhanserik Seyitmuratuly.

The farm is equipped with a ventilation system, automatic feed supply and modern installations, which greatly facilitates the work of milkmaids and cowmen.

The Saq NS enterprise from the Aktogay district, located in the village of Saryterek, has also introduced "smart" technologies — now there is a modern workshop for the production of koumiss. From 200 dairy mares receive up to 1,000 liters of drink daily. All processes — from milking to bottling — are automated, using German technology.

— We strive to bring koumiss to the international market, therefore we use only modern technologies. This saves time and reduces the need for manual labor. We have already created five jobs, we sell our products through our own website, and demand is constantly growing. In the future, we plan to accept milk from local residents," said Nurim Mukhamediev, head of the farm.

The digital village is a new reality

Digital technologies are being introduced into agriculture in Saryarka. GPS trackers and chips in animal husbandry, drones and satellite monitoring in crop production, automated dairy and koumiss farms — all this forms the image of a new, "smart" village.

Karaganda farmers have combined traditions and technologies.

Ortalyq Qazaqstan

Photos provided by agricultural enterprises of the region