Kazakhstan experiences an annual shortage of over 3 million tons of vegetables and potatoes, according to agricultural expert Toleutai Rakhimbekov. He argues that government calculations of domestic consumption are inaccurate, leading to flawed agricultural policies.
Rakhimbekov estimates that the country faces a yearly deficit of 1.3 million tons of potatoes and around 2 million tons of fruits and vegetables. To address this, he proposes launching a pilot project focused on small-scale greenhouse farming.
Official data suggests that Kazakhstan's annual potato demand is 1.5 million tons. However, Rakhimbekov disputes this figure, citing government nutrition guidelines that recommend a per capita potato consumption of 100 kg per year. With a population of over 20 million, the actual demand should be at least 2 million tons, not 1.5 million.
A similar discrepancy exists for fruits and vegetables. According to official standards, each person requires 128 kg annually, meaning Kazakhstan's total demand should be 2.6 million tons. However, Rakhimbekov claims real production is much lower than reported—around 500,000–600,000 tons per year instead of the 4.7–4.8 million tons stated in statistics. As a result, Kazakhstan heavily relies on imports from China, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan.
Rakhimbekov highlights China's success in developing greenhouses in harsh climates. In the Ta-Cheng district of the Xinjiang region, authorities established 16,700 hectares of small greenhouses, enabling the region to dominate Kazakhstan's vegetable market. He suggests that Kazakhstan adopt a similar approach to reduce dependence on imports.
To address the shortage, Rakhimbekov proposes constructing mini-greenhouses, particularly around Astana. He estimates that 1,750 greenhouses, each covering 600 square meters, could fully supply the city's cucumber needs. Similar projects could be developed for tomatoes and other crops.
Rakhimbekov calls on the government and regional authorities to support this initiative as a pilot project under President Tokayev's Aul Amanaty program.
Source: dknews.kz