Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Serik Zhumangarin and Chairman of the People's Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China Erkin Tuniyaz discussed cooperation in agriculture and the introduction of water-saving technologies that increase productivity in the industry from 30 to 70%.

Kazakhstan plans to cover up to 50% of irrigated land with water-saving technologies. So far, this indicator is 16 per cent. A number of complex measures are being taken to realise the set tasks. 

 "We have all programme documents to support and stimulate the introduction of water saving in agriculture and industry. We are ready to work with business structures. Implementation of projects in Almaty, Turkestan and Karaganda oblasts has started," First Deputy Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bolat Bekniyaz addressed the participants of the meeting. 

The Chinese side proposed to consider the technologies of the company "Tianye", which is a provider of integrated services in the field of water conservation. The corporation is one of the 500 largest companies in China. Its representatives are ready to share their experience, thanks to which farmers harvest 500 kg of cotton and a tonne of corn from 1 mu (1 ha=15 mu).

Serik Zhumangarin proposed cooperation with the National Agrarian Research and Education Centre (NAREC), which has vast land areas, for joint scientific tests on the introduction of water-saving technologies in the southern regions of Kazakhstan. In addition, the company's proposal to consider the possibility of opening in our country not only production facilities, but also training centres for the use of sprinkler technology and drip irrigation was supported.

In addition, the parties discussed the ongoing work on the creation of a "green corridor" for the accelerated passage of domestic agricultural products by motor vehicles through checkpoints and the introduction of common means of identification in the form of "green seals". Deputy Minister of Agriculture Yerbol Taszhurekov noted that the Kazakh side fully supports the application of these mechanisms. Instructions have been received from the PRC to unify the rules to facilitate control at the border. The issue is at the stage of coordination with interested government agencies.

For reference: Cooperation in the field of agriculture is an important component of Kazakhstan-China relations. In 2023, trade turnover of agricultural products between Kazakhstan and China increased 1.7 times and exceeded $1.3bn (exports - $1.01bn (+184%), imports - $290.2m (+125%). 

#Agriculture #Agroindustrial complex #International Cooperation #Serik Zhumangarin #Trade