Serik Zhumangarin: The creation of drought-resistant varieties of crops and new technologies for deep processing should be a priority
Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin set the tasks of creating new drought-resistant and in-demand varieties of agricultural crops for Kazakhstani breeders. The meeting took place within the framework of the regular hearing session of the subsidiaries of the NAO "National Agrarian Scientific and Educational Center" (NANOC).
In the structure of the NANOC, research institutes cover all branches of agriculture, including crop production and animal husbandry, in terms of their functionality. However, in practice, Kazakhstani farmers often use seeds and technologies from foreign countries. The meeting participants discussed in detail the issues of establishing a closer link between domestic science and agriculture and the introduction of successful domestic developments into production.
Today, the functions of the Kazakh Research Institute of Agriculture and Crop Production include the creation of competitive varieties of crops and hybrids using classical methods and achievements of biotechnology, genetic engineering. The institute's achievements include an 11–fold increase in soybean acreage (over 40 years). The share of KAZNIA varieties in the total soybean crop in the southern regions of the country today is more than 70%.
In grain-growing regions, the popularity of wheat varieties bred on the basis of the Scientific and Production Center of grain farming named after A.I. Baraev is growing. The center specializes in agriculture, breeding and seed production. The spring wheat varieties bred here in 2023 were used for 67% of the acreage in Akmola (2,874.6 thousand hectares), 23% in North Kazakhstan region (586.1 thousand hectares), 14% in Karaganda (109.2 thousand hectares) and 9% in Kostanay regions (320.8 thousand hectares). Such varieties as "Shortandinskaya 95 str.", "Astana", "Akmola 2" and others are especially popular among farmers.
«One of the best, recently bred wheat varieties “Taimas” surpasses domestic and foreign analogues in its characteristics. It is resistant to drought, heat and disease. Together with the Science Foundation, we have won a grant for the commercialization of this variety. Last year, “Timas” was patented, now it will be distributed as priority seed varieties», — Timur Savin, head of the A. I. Baraev NPCC, noted.
The Kazakh Scientific Research Institute of Plant Protection and Quarantine named after Zh. Zhiembayev is the only institution in the republic specializing in the field of plant protection and quarantine. The main problem of the institute today is the weak control over the quality of seed material. In this regard, it is proposed to create a new control system based on appropriate certification.
The Kazakh Research Institute of Processing and Food Industry has its own piggy bank of successful cases. So, on the basis of "Baiserke-Agro" LLP, "Meat Processing and Service" and the Aktobe meat cluster, the technology of cutting and deboning cattle carcasses developed at the Research Institute was introduced, which meets international standards. The agrofirm "Akzhar Ondiris" in Pavlodar region successfully uses the technology of production of probiotic protein product from goat's milk. And in the farm "Zerenda" in the Akmola region, the production of dairy products for baby food based on goat's milk has been established, which is also a development of the institute's scientists.
«We need deep processing technologies for those types of products for which we are competitive. There are many large-scale industries in the country, more than a hundred dairy farms will be put into operation this year alone. We should not sell raw materials and grain, but finished products and related products, such as packaging. Therefore, it is necessary to develop technologies in accordance with the programs of investment projects of the Ministry of Agriculture. The Institute of Crop Production needs to prepare proposals focused on the cultivation of drought-resistant and market-demanded crops», — Serik Zhumangarin addressed the participants of the meeting.
The Deputy Prime Minister also heard representatives of the institutes of soil science and agrochemistry, rice farming, agricultural economics and rural development.