FIGURA 5.8 Residuos de la regresión

EVGENIY KLIMOV1

The agricultural sector in Kazakhstan

Agriculture is one of the key sectors of the Kazakhstan economy. As one of the priorities in development, agriculture has huge potential. The variety of climatic conditions in Kazakh- stan allows nearly all temperate zone crops to be grown and for the enhancement of animal husbandry.

The total agricultural land in Kazakhstan amounts to 222.6 million hectares, of which 24 million hectares are arable land (10.8 percent), 5 million hectares are meadows (2.2 per- cent), and 189 million hectares are pastures (85 percent). Ten percent of the country’s area is in forest-steppe and steppe zones; about 60 percent is in the semi-desert and desert zones; and about 5 percent is in mountainous areas. All agricultural zones in the country are characterized by low annual precipitation amounting to 150 to 320 millimeters per annum.

The lack of sea access creates significant difficulties for accessing external markets. The county is self-sufficient for most foodstuffs, except for such products as sugar, cooking oil, poultry meat, vegetables, and fruits during the off-season. The country is a major exporter of wheat and flour (one of the world’s top ten exporters) and also has a significant share in total agricultural exports of the country with cotton (15 percent), leather and wool (25 percent).

Conditions for the organic sector development

The area of agricultural land under chemical treatment is about 160'000 hectares (i.e., only a small part of the agricultural area). In Kazakhstan the cultivation of genetically modified crops is banned. All this creates favorable conditions for the development of organic pro- duction and considerably facilitates the process of conversion.

Regulatory and legal framework, labeling, and certification

The environmental code (ST RK 1618-2007) stipulates the basic provisions for the labeling of “eco-products.” “Eco-products” are defined by the code as products that have beneficial effects on the environment, public health, and biological resources. Ecologically clean pro- duction does not, however, correspond to international understanding of organic produc- tion.

In Kazakhstan, the prefix “bio” is used for food products enriched with vitamins and benefi- cial bacteria. “Organic” is a brand and not related to organic production. The use of the term “organic” is not regulated.

Currently Kazakhstan has no state certification system for organic products. There are also no local private certification companies. There are, however, three European certification companies in Kazakhstan accredited to certify products exported to international markets.

1 _{Evgeniy Klimov, Director of the Organic Centre of Kazakhstan and director of the Foundation for Integration of} Ecological Culture, 40, Orbita-1, Office 107 B, 050043 Almaty, Kazakhstan, Tel. +7 727 255 27 11 and

Production and export of organic products in Kazakhstan

One of the three certifiers made data available for this article (Table 22). According to this certifier, the area under organic control is almost 135’000 hectares. Eight companies are certified and much of the organic production is geared for export.

Table 22: Kazakhstan: Organic production: Organic area, production, and exports

Products Cultivated area (ha) Harvested crops (product) in metric tons

Exported crops (in metric tons) Soft Wheat 35‘706 49‘847 33‘035 Durum wheat 8‘298 14‘936 3‘067 Rice 2‘862 10‘017 500 (Cargo) Rice chaff 1‘300 Lucerne 2‘291 22‘818 Rape 16‘193 24‘290 1‘137 Rapeseed cake 10‘000 9‘727 Barley 620 1‘240 Oat 10 13 Wine Grapes 20 90 Sunflower 3‘672 5‘508 Linen 5‘304 7‘426 4‘590 Soy 6‘528 18‘278 3‘037 Alcohol 100 Vodka 250 Source: Organic Centre of Kazakhstan (data from one certifier)

Internal Market

Despite several barriers such as lack of legislation and lack of public awareness, basic condi- tions for developing an internal market in Kazakhstan exist. This is shown by market re- search results carried out by the Organic Center of Kazakhstan showing a demand for or- ganic products. The majority of the surveyed were prepared to pay 10 to 30 percent more for organic products, 20 percent of the people answered that they are even prepared to pay 50 percent more.

Information campaigns held by the Organic Center of Kazakhstan resulted in an increase in demand for organic products. Organic products have been sold in the past year and a half in supermarkets in Kazakhstan. As a consequence of the weak development of organic pro- duction in Kazakhstan thus far, all products are imported, mainly from the EU countries. Products such as juices, baby food, cosmetics, tea, and coffee are part of the product mix. In 2010 some supermarkets opened specialized stands for organic products. Currently, only one organic café and one specialized eco-shop exist.

For 2011, the marketing of local organic dairy products in the city of Almaty is planned, with the assistance of the Organic Center of Kazakhstan. If an appropriate legislative framework is developed, a dynamic growth of both production and consumption of organic products in Kazakhstan is expected.

Background: The Organic Centre of Kazakhstan www.organiccenter.kz

The Organic Centre of Kazakhstan was founded in 2008 as a result of cooperation between the Foundation for Integration of Ecological Culture (FIEC, Kazakhstan) and the Agro Eco Louis Bolk Institute (The Netherlands) with financial support from the European Commis- sion. The mission of the Centre is to strengthen the organic movement and assist in creat- ing an enabling environment for the development of organic agriculture in Kazakhstan and Central Asia.

The Organic Centre is the only organization of this type in Kazakhstan. The organization smoothly combines the non-profit and commercial activities, and it helps develop the or- ganic sector in the region combining dissemination of knowledge and experience with the provision of resources and creating a competitive market environment. The Organic Centre of Kazakhstan supports and develops a broad partner network in Central Asia and other regions of the world.

Currently, the Organic Centre is working on the following main tasks:

- Providing access to information to the interested parties through organization of in- formation campaigns, trainings, and issuing publications;

- Assistance to farmers in transition to organic production through the implementation of training and consulting programs;

- Assistance in creation of a sustainable commodity organic chain for both domestic and international markets;

- Influencing the drafting process of the national legislation meeting the international organic standards;

- Cooperation with interested Central Asian, international, and foreign partners aimed at small business development in the field of organic agriculture;

- Information and methodological support to small and medium business support units.

Background: Third International Conference on organic sector development in Central/Eastern European and Central Asian countries

During September 2010, the 3rd International Conference on the organic sector develop- ment in Central/Eastern European and Central Asian countries took place and focussed on the relationship between organic agriculture, biodiversity, rural development, and eco- tourism.

One hundred and twenty participants from 18 countries came to Astana, Kazakhstan, from September 17-18, 2010. More than half of the participants were from Central Asian coun- tries. Furthermore, participants came from countries like Ukraine and Georgia, but also from Turkey and some Western European countries.

By holding the conference in Astana, the organizers deliberately decided to strengthen the movement in a region where organic is just emerging as a solution compared to Georgia and Ukraine, where the two previous conferences were held. In Kazakhstan, like in its neighbor- ing countries, there are only very few certified organic farms and even fewer manufacturers. Markets are mostly export oriented as domestic markets are either non-existent or in the very early stages of development.

A total of 43 speakers in ten parallel and six plenary sessions presented during the confer- ence. Papers of all speakers compiled in English and Russian in the conference proceedings were given to the participants to support dissemination of knowledge. After two intensive days of exchange, discussion, and inspiring presentations, the 3rd international conference closed by presenting the conference declaration that was passed.

The conference was organized by the Foundation for Integration of Ecological Culture, Organic Services, Agro Eco Louis Bolk Institute, and the Organic Federation of Ukraine.

Links

- www.Conference.OrganicCenter.kz: Website of the Organic Conference in Kazakhstan - OrganicCenter.kz: Website of the Organic Centre Kazakhstan

- Louisbolk.org: Website AgroEco Louis Bolk Institute