Meat production in Kazakhstan is growing every year and the state sets the goal for the agricultural producers to steadily increase this volume and raise the export bar.
By the end of 2013, meat production in Kazakhstan reached 871,000 tonnes, which corresponds to a 3.1-percent growth over 2012. In the total volume of production, beef was 383,400 tonnes, lamb 156,300 tonnes, pork 99,900 tonnes, horsemeat 89,400 tonnes and poultry 135,800 tonnes.
Substantial growth in productivity was observed in agro-formations, where meat production in 2013 increased by 13.5 percent and amounted to 294,300 tonnes. Positive dynamics can currently be traced. As of July 1, meat production in comparison with the same period last year increased by 3 percent. However, imports of meat, including poultry, decreased in comparison to the previous year by 12 percent.
Since 2011, we have also observed a trend in the growth of livestock in agricultural companies. This means that the number of professional farmers has also grown and has a positive impact on the livestock industry as a whole.
Positive dynamics are also seen in the number of breeding cattle. Over the past three years Kazakhstan imported more than 40,000 head of brood stock and more than 67 new, modern farms and reproducers were created. As a result of these measures, the specific weight of breeding stock grew by 8.8 percent and reached 510,600 animals.
Meat and meat products are integral elements in the structure of the country’s strategic food plans. Per capita consumption of animal products is the main indicator of the well-being of the nation.
To develop the export potential of beef cattle, the Kazakh government by its decree approved a comprehensive action plan for the development of export potential of cattle meat in 2011-2015. At present, this programme is an essential tool to ensure sustainable development of beef production in Kazakhstan and to provide independence in import and export supplies of meat and meat products. The project is being implemented ahead of the plans.
Thus, in 2013 about 4,500 tonnes of meat and meat products were exported, including 340 tonnes of premium-class beef. The Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture, regional administrations and KazAgro have signed a tripartite memorandum on the export of almost 10,000 tonnes of beef. At present exports of beef, including processed meat products, reached 2,283 tonnes and the Western Kazakhstan region accounts for the bulk of the exports (1,308 tonnes of beef to Russia).
As a result, the agriculture industry will gradually saturate the internal market and entrench Kazakhstan as a supplier of quality products to the foreign markets.
The author is Vice Minister of Agriculture of Kazakhstan.
