Kazakhstan is negotiating cooperation with the Center for Agronomy and Agroindustry CARAH (Belgium). It is a non-profit association whose mission is to help farmers introduce advanced agricultural technologies.
As the chairman of the board of the Union of Potato and Vegetable Growers of Kazakhstan Kairat Bisetayev said, cooperation with CARAH will help to increase the competence of Kazakh farmers and will contribute to an increase in crop volumes in the country.
“CARAH acts as an intermediary between science and the farmer. The Center's specialists work in the field - that's why they are of interest to us. Well, for the experts themselves, it is important to enter the huge market of Kazakhstan. Here they can introduce their most advanced technologies. In addition, in Kazakhstan, they are interested in interaction with specialists from local scientific centers. We would like to conclude a triple agreement, with the participation of our Kazakh Research Institute of Fruit and Vegetable Growing, ”noted Kairat Bisetaev.
According to the expert on quality and environment CARAH Francois Cernels, it is training in the field of potato growing that can become the starting point of cooperation between the Center and Kazakhstan.
In Belgium itself, great attention is paid to agricultural education. “Today in Belgium it is rare to become a farmer without a degree. Many even have a bachelor's or master's degree in agronomy. But to achieve this, it took about 100 years. In order not to wait a hundred years (or even 50) for one or two generations of young people to be trained in agronomic educational institutions, you can undergo professional training under the guidance of local practitioners who are familiar with the realities of Kazakhstan and working in cooperation with foreign specialists, ”noted Belgian expert.
Within the framework of cooperation, representatives of the Kazakhstani agricultural sector will have the opportunity, within the framework of one- or two-week training courses in Belgium, to master the methods used there, and then adapt them in practice at home. In turn, Belgian experts visiting Kazakhstan will be able to formulate technical or organizational proposals that are relevant for Kazakhstani manufacturers.