Veterinary facilities in Kazakhstan need upgrading - agriculture ministerThe infrastructure and equipment of regional veterinary facilities are outdated, which poses threats to animal health and biosafety across the country, Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov said at a Tuesday meeting of the government.“To guarantee comprehensive veterinary safety in Kazakhstan, we must urgently address the deterioration and shortage of veterinary infrastructure and equipment, low wages for veterinary workers, and incomplete digitalization of import-export procedures,” Saparov said.He noted that out of the 206 veterinary centers located in district centers nationwide, 72 do not have buildings of their own.“For example, in the Abay region, only three out of ten district veterinary centers have dedicated veterinary buildings. Similar problems can be seen in the East Kazakhstan, Atyrau, Akmola and Mangistau regions,” the minister said.The situation is even worse with local veterinary stations, where preventive veterinary work is carried out.“All stations must be equipped with veterinary manipulation cages and animal disinfection facilities. Yet, out of 2,285 veterinary stations across Kazakhstan, as many as 1,628 (or 71%) lack such facilities,” Saparov said.In 2024, a total of 107 veterinary stations were built in the republic, and another 323 will have been built in 2025, according to the minister.He highlighted success stories in the Zhetysu, Zhambyl and North Kazakhstan regions, where 137 new veterinary stations were commissioned using a mix of public funding and private investment. However, he noted that no new facilities have been established over the past two years in the Abay, Pavlodar and Turkistan regions.Saparov also pointed to a shortage of specialized vehicles needed for veterinary services. In 2024, as many as 327 vehicles were purchased and additional 346 are to be bought in 2025. Still, the Abay, Pavlodar and Ulytau regions have not allocated any funds for this purpose, he said.Furthermore, 54 pieces of laboratory equipment need to be purchased to improve animal diagnostic capabilities.Despite these challenges, Saparov emphasized that Kazakhstan has made significant progress in improving animal health. Over the past three years, animal disease rates have declined by 49.1%, including a 56.3% decrease in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year.“Thanks to improved epizootic conditions, southeastern regions of Kazakhstan have regained disease-free status for foot-and-mouth disease, African horse sickness, classical and African swine fever and highly pathogenic avian influenza. As a result, China lifted its temporary bans on Kazakh poultry and livestock imports, and Russia removed its restrictions related to foot-and-mouth disease in the southeast zone,” the minister said. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX