Fail to prepare, prepare to failAs farmers prepare for the upcoming agricultural season, the government has allocated 700 billion tenge for spring fieldwork and harvest preparations, with 560 billion tenge sourced from market capital. This funding, provided earlier than usual—by the end of November instead of January—will allow farmers to purchase seeds, fertilizers, and prepare equipment in advance. In comparison, in 2024, subsidized credit for spring fieldwork began on January 21, with 140 billion tenge allocated.However, the Audit Chamber has identified significant inefficiencies in agricultural subsidies, revealing 142 billion tenge in misallocated funds and 2 billion tenge in financial violations. Economic losses and missed opportunities are estimated at 5 billion tenge. Experts note that due to scattered support measures, the overall subsidy needs are underfunded by half. The Chamber recommends creating a more transparent and efficient subsidy distribution process.Sweet OutcomeSouthern regions of Kazakhstan have seen an unprecedented harvest of sugar beets, with the Ministry of Agriculture forecasting 1.1 million tonnes in October and reporting 1.3 million tonnes by December, with an average yield of 535.5 centners per hectare. This is a significant increase compared to 509,000 tonnes in 2023. The entire harvest is expected to be processed domestically, with 988,600 tonnes already processed by December 20. The remaining crops are stored on farms awaiting processing.Additionally, about 90,000 tonnes will be sent to Kyrgyzstan’s sugar factories to ensure full processing. Agreements for processing and sugar re-export have been made at the government level. Kazakhstan has four sugar factories, with plans to build a new one in the south capable of processing 1 million tonnes of sugar beets, with potential investment interest from China. However, the government plans to reduce sugar beet planting areas in 2025 due to insufficient processing capacity.Casting a Net for Caspian SpratKazakhstan has revived commercial fishing of Caspian sprat in its western region, with an annual target of 10,000 tonnes. The country's fishing vessels have resumed industrial fishing after a 30-year hiatus, with the first ships departing from the Kuryk port in the Mangistau region.The commercial fishing industry in Mangistau thrived until 1991, when the "Mangyshlak Ribhkhodflot" enterprise, which served Kazakhstan and neighboring countries, ceased operations. Now, "Aktau Balyk Company" has taken up the task, having acquired two trawlers, and aims to harvest 10,000 tonnes of Caspian sprat annually for the domestic market.Looking ahead, the company plans to expand its fleet with four additional modern trawlers in 2025 to increase catch volumes to 30,000 tonnes per year. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX