Kazakhstan will not face wheat shortage over crop diversification - agriculture ministerOngoing crop diversification and a reduction in wheat areas will not lead to shortages of wheat or flour in Kazakhstan, Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov said on Tuesday.“Crop diversification is necessary. There will be no shortages of wheat or flour. Both are available in sufficient volumes,” Saparov said at a press conference in the government, responding to a question about whether reduced planting areas could result in a wheat deficit.“We are reducing the area under wheat and other grain crops because current production levels are adequate. We are shifting toward other, more profitable crops to support farmers [who want to grow oilseeds and other agricultural products],” he said.Kazakhstan has been consistently pursuing a policy of crop diversification by cutting areas under wheat and expanding the cultivation of higher-margin crops.The total sown area in 2026 is projected at 23.8 million hectares, up 180,000 hectares from the previous year. Oilseed crops will expand by 55,000 hectares, forage crops by 242,000 hectares, barley by 94,000 hectares, and potatoes grown by agricultural enterprises by 10,300 hectares.At the same time, the area under wheat will be reduced by 125,000 hectares to 12.1 million hectares, according to the ministry. (ICE ALMATY)

Fonte notizia: INTERFAX