The plan to increase irrigated land areas was sent to the oblast akimats for further implementation, said Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan Saparkhan Omarov at a meeting of the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan chaired by Prime Minister Askar Mamin.
According to the Minister, in Kazakhstan today 1,5 million hectares of agricultural land have a summed up water management infrastructure. At the same time, only 14% apply modern drip and sprinkler irrigation. The remaining areas are flooded with outdated uneconomical methods - continuous flooding and surface irrigation.
To encourage farmers to switch to modern methods, the state currently offers investment subsidies with half the cost of irrigation systems. In addition, conditions are being created for educating farmers and disseminating knowledge, including through a network of demonstration farms.
It also provides preferential financing for the purchase of irrigation systems under the program "Economics of simple things."
“The benefits of irrigated agriculture are evident. With this method, the yield of many crops is increased by 2-3 times. It is the increase in gross yield that makes irrigated agriculture attractive for investors, despite the high costs of acquiring irrigation systems, ”said the head of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Saparkhan Omarov also touched on the diversification of irrigated lands. According to him, at present, such crops as wheat and barley are sown the most on irrigated lands. In the coming years, the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan plans to change the situation in favor of vegetable and melon and fodder crops.
“Within the framework of the tasks set by the Head of State for import substitution, the transition to highly profitable crops and the gradual increase in irrigated land, the ministry has developed a new crop area. This document provides for a twofold increase in the area of irrigated land until 2030. This structure has been brought to the oblast akimats for implementation, ”said Saparkhan Omarov.