The Security Council has held a meeting chaired by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev in Astana.
“There is only one issue on the agenda: safety security of the republic,” Nazarbaev said.
“Kazakhstan”s rather important role in the global production of food is well known. However, we need to improve our internal food security (…) and develop the agricultural sector as one of the areas of the innovation economy, increase the agriculture added value and boost its share in GDP and total exports,” the President said.
“This is the first time when we give first priority to the agricultural sector,” he said and urged the meeting to discuss these issues and adopt a resolution.
The republic has spent over 500 billion KZT since 2003 to support and develop the agricultural sector. Today Kazakhstan is the number one global grain producer with over 1,000 tons per capita, Nazarbaev reminded.
The Agricultural Minister Akylbek Kurishbayev said the agricultural industry nearly fully satisfied, in accordance with the established standards, the internal demand for the basic food products.
“With the exception of oil-producing crop the internal demand for which is only satisfied for 75%, berries for 30%, early vegetables 4%, sugar beat 6%,” Kurishbayev said. He also said that Kazakhstan was dependent on poultry imports which accounted for 67%.
