Kazakhstan to diversify 1 million hectares of farmland in 2025, shifting from wheatKazakhstan plans to diversify nearly 1 million hectares of agricultural land in 2025 as part of a national program to reduce reliance on grain production, the country’s agriculture ministry announced.The initiative will expand cultivation of higher-value legumes, oilseeds, and fodder crops while further reducing wheat acreage.“This program moves Kazakhstan toward more sustainable, balanced agricultural production by focusing on high-demand crops for both domestic and export markets,” the ministry stated.Under the plan, oilseed cultivation will grow by 378,000 hectares (13%) to over 3.3 million hectares, including a record 1.4 million hectares of sunflower (a 9.5% increase). Flax fields will expand by 181,000 hectares, safflower by 52,000 hectares and rapeseed by 28,000 hectares. Fodder crops will gain 127,000 hectares to strengthen livestock feed supplies and crop rotation systems.The shift continues a two-year trend that has already removed 750,000 hectares from wheat production, including 187,000 hectares this year. However, barley acreage will grow by 158,000 hectares and buckwheat by 41,000 hectares due to market demand. Sugar beet planting will decrease by 6,700 hectares to 18,400 hectares after last year’s harvest challenges, while potato fields will expand by 11,300 hectares to boost the domestic supply.The ministry emphasized water conservation measures, maintaining cotton fields at 135,000 hectares while expanding drip irrigation to 50,000 hectares and reducing traditional cultivation by 21,400 hectares. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX