Second Record Bumper Harvest over Last Five Years in Kazakhstan – About 21 Million Tons in Store – Nazarbayev

Astana. October 2, 2009. KazTAG – President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan congratulated Kazakhstan grain farmers on the successful completion of harvesting.

“Under this year’s difficult weather conditions, the grain farmers of Kazakhstan grew excellent crops of grain. Gross grain in bunker weight of about 21 million tons of grain – is the second record harvest for the last five years,” reads the message published on Friday in the official mass media.

As Nursultan Nazarbayev emphasized, “the achievement of the high yields and grain quality standards is the result of tireless work of rural workers and the systemic state support for the development of grain production that provided, under the conditions of the world financial crisis, for the expansion of areas sown by grain crops, diversification of crops, and universal start of transiting to implementation of water-saving and resource-saving technologies”.

Head of State noted especially exemplary performance of Kostanai, North Kazakhstan, and Akmola Oblasts grain growers who gathered some 16 million tons of grain. The record harvests were gathered in Almaty, Zhambyl, and South Kazakhstan Oblasts. A great deal was done in respect of putting into operation new agricultural products processing facilities.

“The contribution of farmers into ensuring the country’s food security, increased export potential, and improved image of the country as a grain power deserves praise and gratitude,” said Head of State.

“I congratulate you on the progress attained. I wish you sound health, prosperity, and new achievements in the development of the agrarian sector of our country,” said N. Nazarbayev in his congratulatory letter.

This year, 16.3 million hectares were sown with grain in Kazakhstan, including 13.9 million hectares of wheat. The main grain-producing regions of the country are Akmola, North Kazakhstan and Kostanai Oblasts. In 2008, 15.6 million tonnes of grain net were harvested in Kazakhstan.