TARAZ – At the National Kumis Forum, experts from Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey discussed problems with the industrial production of the traditional drink and made recommendations for its expansion. Kumis is a Kazakh national drink made from fermented mare’s milk.
Local entrepreneurs were the first in Kazakhstan to receive a patent for producing kumis, under the brand name Khan Kymyz. And Zhambyl’s Zan company, along with scientists from the Dulati Taraz State University’s nanoresearch laboratories and the Centre of Sanitary-Epidemiological Expertise, have made a breakthrough in kumis storage: they can store natural kumis for 60 days without the use of preservatives. The combination of this technology with mechanised milking processes could facilitate the mass production of kumis.
Forum participants developed a concept for the expansion of kumis production in Kazakhstan. They recommended that the Ministry of Agriculture establish a regional research centre of the Kazakh Livestock and Forage Production Research Institute at Zan’s offices and that the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance Committee review the existing standards for natural mare’s milk.
The forum also proposed creating chambers of kumis producers and manufacturers of horse-breeding products, and suggested that businesses engaged in producing the Kazakh national drink should get tax benefits.
